Pirouettes and Playbooks
So here’s something cool — NFL players have actually been using ballet as part of their training for a while. Legends like Lynn Swann and Walter Payton did it, and now Nakobe Dean from the Eagles is doing ballet too as part of his rehab from a knee injury.
Dean’s been taking classes at BalletX in Philly, and he says it’s helping with his flexibility and mobility. He said, “You just feel a change immediately. After you stretch, you’re not as tight or as sore.” Honestly, as someone who does ballet, I totally get that feeling — it’s amazing how much it helps with strength and recovery.
Dean’s had his fair share of injuries, so mixing up his rehab with ballet makes total sense. Ballet moves muscles in different ways than football does, which can help prevent future injuries. But don’t get it twisted — he’s still all about football. He said, “I’m a football player through and through.” That balance between passion and trying new stuff is inspiring.
It really makes me think about how my ballet training could help me in other parts of life — or how mixing in new things keeps you sharp and ready for whatever comes next.
