Josh Allen arguably has all the ingredients of a champion. He’s got brute strength and sheer will. He can (and has) run into the end zone scoring multiple touchdowns. Remaining cool under pressure, the Buffalo Bills' quarterback makes split-second decisions for the benefit of his team, and he does all of this every Sunday during football season.
During Sunday night's game against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, 29-year-old Allen smashed any doubt about being the reigning MVP and, if he keeps it up, why he could go back-to-back.
Allen had 251 passing yards—in the fourth quarter—and helped the Bills overcome a 15-point deficit, which led to the team's 41-40 victory.
And while Bills fans clamor to see their QB lead the team closer and closer to Super Bowl glory, in between games, the 29-year-old works just as hard off the field. For the 2024 AP NFL Most Valuable Player, he has to stay in the best shape, and that means recovering thoroughly and effectively. Yes, he stretches and cools down after games, but when you’re playing at the level Josh Allen is, you’ll need a bit more.
Introducing Therabody.
As the global leader in wellness technology, Therabody is dedicated to giving you the tools to recover, reset, and take on tomorrow’s challenges, whether you’re an NFL player or a single parent.
For Allen, his body is his tool, and he needs it to work the best it can during the season. And to do that, Allen opts for the Theragun Pro Plus. For more than seven years, Allen has used the suite of Therabody products to help him achieve his goals, and now, he’s the company's first-ever performance advisor. A hand-in-glove kind of partnership that combines his skills on the field with Therabody's scientifically backed research, which he benefits from off the field.
"Seven years in, and I still reach for my Theragun before and after every workout, every practice, and every game,” Josh Allen says. “It's not just recovery for me, it's preparation. That’s why I'm excited to step into this new role as performance advisor, to help bring that same mindset and insight into product development and show people that this isn't just about feeling better, it's about performing better."
Complex caught up with Allen to discuss his new role at Therabody, how he’s going to bring his Josh Allen-ness to the organization, and, of course, The Bills.
As a professional athlete, you put your body through a lot. What do some of Therabody’s products do for you that regular stretching and a cool down after practice don’t?
I think prehab is not taken as seriously as it should be. Being able to use Therabody products, especially on my throwing arm, before I go out there is just as important as after I'm done using them. I think recovery is just as important as training. And Therabody has been a part of my daily routine since I met Dr. J (Dr. Jason Wersland), going into my rookie year before I even got drafted. So, it's a pretty surreal experience to now be partnering with them, and it's something I don't take for granted.
What’s your favorite Therabody tool and why?
Theragun Pro Plus. I love the heating aspect of it, especially, like I mentioned earlier, when I'm going out before practice, I'm hitting myself with the Theragun Pro, and the heating element gets the blood flowing, and it feels like I get really loose before I even have to throw.
I think as a thrower, your body has a limited amount of throws in it before it starts breaking down, and the Theragun allows me to not put as much stress on my shoulder. So, that really helps me get out and get loose before practice.
How long is a standard practice?
A standard practice ranges from an hour and a half to about two and a half hours, depending on the day.
And during your off-season, how long are you practicing before the season starts?
It depends. Some guys tend to practice year-round. I tend to practice a little less and let my body recover. In Therabody's arsenal, the jet boots are something that I use often. The compression on my legs helps me feel like I get back to a hundred percent super quickly, and then it allows me to go into the season feeling fresh and ready.
I'm not an athlete, I'm a writer. How can Therabody products benefit me, if at all?
Oh, wow. Well, I think if you were to search through the entirety of what Therabody has to offer, you’d see the sleep compression mask, which is nice and feels good. I've got one here at the house, and I use it often. The slight massage and the vibration, and the heat are helpful. Even with Theragun Pro Plus, it has breathing technique exercises that you can use on the little screen, and I don't know, I think that is a form of meditation, and everybody can learn how to breathe better. I think it can help slow your heart rate and put you into a better state.
The Buffalo Bills had such an impressive season last year. How do you plan to take it further, and how does Therabody, if at all, help with that goal?
Obviously, came up short last year, and we're still looking to find a way to win the Super Bowl. And performing at my best is something that needs to happen for us to achieve that goal. And I truly believe that Therabody and their products help me compete at the highest levels that I can. I wouldn't use anything or promote anything I don't fully believe in. And this is a product that I use daily. To play at my best and to compete at my best, I have to feel my best. And this is what helps me do that.
Whether you're a professional athlete, a single parent, or your average Joe, recovery from the workday or the workweek is important. How many hours of sleep do you get during the season, and what is your recovery process after a game?
During the season, I've actually tried to increase the amount of sleep I get. So, I’m getting about eight hours a night. Now, after games, on a Sunday, it’s a little bit different. You've got the adrenaline still going, and you might feel a little sore. So, the next day, Monday, isn't when I feel the most sore. I feel pretty fine. Tuesday's actually when I feel really bad because I think that's when everything sets in. So, making sure that when I get home, obviously hydrating and putting the Theragun on my body wherever I'm sore. Then waking up on Monday, putting the compression boots on, and then Tuesday, hopefully I'm not feeling as sore as I probably should.
As the performance advisor, what are some of your duties, and what will you, Josh Allen, do that's outside of the scope to bring more awareness to Therabody?
I just want to share the insights and routines that worked for me. At the end of the day, it's not about just feeling better; it's about performing better. Like I said earlier in the interview, it's a product that I fully believe in. I joined the company initially as an investor in 2021, and now this performance advisor role takes it to the next level. But again, just telling my story about preparing and being ready to perform and sharing that story with other athletes or parents or whoever may intend to use these types of products.
There's a certain mentality you must have to be a winner. Resilience, work ethic, a can-do attitude, but what rarely recognized attribute do you think one has to have?
Authenticity. I think to be the face of a franchise or to be a leader within your team, you have to be as real with yourself as you can be. You have to know yourself, know what you're good at, know what you're bad at. And ultimately, this is kind of how I choose brands and who I partner with. I don't choose anything that I don't use. I wouldn't tell my teammates to do something that I wouldn't do. So, I think it's the authenticity piece to it that maybe gets overlooked a little bit.
Anything else you want to say before we wrap this up?
Honestly, I think being Therabody's first performance advisor is not just a title. It's about helping shape the way athletes everywhere think about recovery, and that's so cool. To be at the forefront of that and have such a fantastic brand working alongside me, trying to help athletes perform to the best that they can.