NFL players are looking at a much different offseason in 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has shut down NFL facilities for at least two weeks and perhaps longer. Conditioning programs have already been delayed for the Chiefs. Teams are expecting that things like organized team activities and rookie minicamp will be delayed.
Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz spoke with Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer about the potential for a shortened offseason program. While the circumstances for this change are unfortunate, the extra time to recover isn’t usually something afforded to Super Bowl champions.
“I think it’s a good thing,” Schwartz told Breer. “Pushing the start later means some guys will come back more ready to get right back into the swing of things, because we get to take a little more time to get our bodies right. … For me, personally, being an older guy, to get that little extra rest helps. When you start OTAs, we were going to have lost five weeks of that, and this will probably build it back in.”
Usually, Super Bowl teams are faced with the disadvantage of less time to rest their bodies, having played into February, before they’re back at it again. Right now, it looks like they’ll have the time to catch up with their 2020 opponents and then some.
In the meantime, players like Schwartz are doing what they can to stay in shape. It’s a pretty difficult thing to do, especially when Schwartz is cooking smash burgers with gravy and garlic aioli. One thing that has made it easier is workout programs sent by strength and conditioning coach Barry Rubin.
“The Chiefs’ strength coaches sent their guys two separate plans,” Breer wrote. “One a dumbbell-based program for guys who do have a weight-room setup at home, and one a body-weight centered workout for those who don’t.”
Since players can’t head to the Chiefs’ facility to lift weights, this is the new normal for the NFL. Thankfully, many of the players know what their bodies need to keep themselves in good enough shape when offseason workouts finally do arrive. For the time being, they’ll adjust to and make the best out of the new normal.
