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Myles Garrett is among the most lethal defenders in the NFL.
The 6-foot-4, 272-pound defensive end for the Cleveland Browns is an absolute terror for opposing quarterbacks. He's one of the league's leaders in sacks this season, and he's even realistically positioned to chase the single-season sack record held by Michael Strahan and TJ Watt.
Pursuing NFL history requires more than just preternatural talent; Garrett knows he needs to ensure he's fully healthy week in and week out in order to break records. And in a recent interview with GQ, he credited participating in a variety of activities outside of football for his ability to consistently stay on the field.
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"You have to provide different stimuli to the body so that if it ever gets in a compromised position, it's not absolutely new to your body," Garrett said.
By putting his body in a position to grow accustomed to new movements, Garrett believes he's avoided many situations where his body "doesn't know how to react — so it reacts with either a sprain, you pull something, or God forbid, something worse."
"Being able to try those new activities or sports, it allows my body to be able to adapt and adjust to them," he added.
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Garrett mentioned that he's recently started practicing Pilates and that it's kept him in proper shape for gamedays. According to research studies, the popular form of exercise can improve muscle endurance, flexibility, balance, and posture — all of which is beneficial for preventing injuries.
The four-time Pro Bowler said that Pilates has helped him stay "limber and flexible." He also warned that it's harder than you might think.
"It's a lot of core work as well; as much as you have to be flexible, you have to be able to use your core more efficiently," Garrett said. "It's not just about what you see on the outside because you can have abs and be terrible at Pilates. It's because there are a lot of smaller muscles that you have to activate and continue to use."
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"You have to be able to hold those positions, stay in them, and be powerful in that stance," he added. "I think that translates very well for any kind of athlete."
Every now and then, Garrett will pull out some yoga poses, too, he told GQ.
Another such activity Garrett has embraced in recent years is Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). He admits that the "ground-and-pound life is not particularly for me," so he and whomever he's training with typically stick to standing up during their sessions.
Still, the 27-year-old said he's learned a lot on the mat that he can implement into his game on the gridiron.
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"I think it is important because of the hand-eye coordination, being light on your feet, being able to switch stances, and the reaction time of having guys throwing hands at you on the football field — trying to block, trying to get you to react and you have to react accordingly and be able to deflect or get even with them or get past them," Garrett said.
But ultimately, he doesn't endorse any single non-football activity as a magic potion for fending off injuries; instead, he implores his colleagues to simply add something that appeals to them to help diversify their routine.
"I think more guys should try more activities, so they don't get in those bad positions and have those bad injuries," Garrett said. "I think we should also stay more active down the stretch of the season. I know coaches like to dial it back a little to take care of their guys, but I also think that's one of the reasons guys get hurt — because their body has become a bit too relaxed"."
