In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes' long-time trainer, Bobby Stroupe, provided insight into some of his training methods and philosophies. That included the story behind Mahomes' infamous "Dad Bod" and why it's actually beneficial for the star quarterback.
You might recall that Mahomes' "Dad Bod" was first outed to the world during an episode of the EW behind-the-scenes show "Inside the NFL" last January. He was taped shirtless during a locker room speech.
Mahomes was a good sport about the entire situation, making fun of it on social media.
The "Dad Bod" was seen again ahead of offseason workouts in May, which led to a fresh wave of comments about the QB's appearance.
As it turns out, just like every aspect of Mahomes' training, the "Dad Bod" is intentional and actually serves a specific football-related purpose.
“I'll be the first to tell you that I think an NFL quarterback should have at least 14% body fat,” Stroupe told PEOPLE's Vanessa Etienne. “It's not from an unhealthy standpoint, but from a force absorption standpoint. You have to be able to take contact."
Stroupe explained his "Cake System" aka the eight layers of the training regimen for Chiefs' star quarterback: Movement literacy, force absorption, force transmission, pattern stability, tissue resiliency, mobility, stability, and flexibility.
It makes plenty of sense that a quarterback might need a little something extra beyond the pads to handle being hit and sacked by 300-pound defensive linemen on the regular. Mahomes had been sacked 148 times and hit 357 times through the first seven seasons of his NFL career.
“We know there's just not a lot of quarterbacks in the Hall of Fame that have a six-pack and there's a reason for that. We've got to find that fine line of performance and health. And the aesthetic part is a different conversation,” Stroupe said. “I don't need him to look like a model because the way he chooses to play requires a certain type of physicality, and that physicality needs more body fat. That is a core belief that I do have for him.”
Now that doesn't mean that Mahomes is out here binging unhealthy foods. Stroupe says they pay very close attention to the quality and sources of the food and drink Mahomes consumes. It's one of the reasons Mahomes partnered to create Throne SPORT COFFEE.
No. 15 has already proven that he's bought into the idea of the "Dad Bod" as a means of force absorption. He knows that it's something that it'll help with his longevity in the NFL as he continues to stamp his name in the history books.
“The dad bod is real, you can see the picture of the dad bod here,” Mahomes told Complex last April. “It gives me the cushion that I need to take the hits, so as long as I can keep it in the right areas and it’s just in the stomach, I think we’ll be able to make this career last a long time.”
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