NFL players, like the rest of us, are adjusting to their strange new realities. Much of their offseason is typically spent inside a gym or, for a nice little break, maybe on a stretch of white beach in a far-off land. For now, that lifestyle is on hold and it's all about the home life.
What happens when all that energy and ability are confined to a smaller footprint and routines are disrupted?
What we're seeing, thanks to social media, is that former and current NFL players -- as well as a few NFL coaches -- are finding other outlets for their talents, while the flair for entertaining remains intact.
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Creative workouts
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz calls agreeing to start up a TikTok account with U.S. national team midfielder Julie Ertz "one of the three worst quarantine decisions I've made!" But at least it's providing joy for their subscribers. Once their respective playing careers are over, the star couple has a future in synchronized workout videos.
Only the Ertz's could make quarantining look this fun! Seriously, could they be any cuter? I feel like if my hubby and I tried to look lovingly at each other like this you all would read right through it haha. @ZERTZ_86 @julieertz
— Jamie Apody (@JamieApody) March 23, 2020
📸 @teamertz on Tik Tok pic.twitter.com/uRczcEZ8nx
Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Ben Jones, meanwhile, shows you don't need a fancy home gym to get swole. All it takes is a wall, a medicine ball and a pickup truck.
Side of the house, pickup truck, Ben Jones can find a gym anywhere. 💪🏽 #FitnessFriday pic.twitter.com/FQZiO1t8X5
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) March 20, 2020
We're not sure if San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk is training for the upcoming football season or to fight Ivan Drago.
Party of One
Being home alone is hard, so it's important to have a sense of humor about it. Titans linebacker Jayon Brown makes light of his reality in this creative TikTok.
Jayon Brown (@JayonBrown12) practicing social distancing on @tiktok_us 😷 pic.twitter.com/fIgO0rLgt6
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) March 21, 2020
Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is in the midst of a 14-day isolation following a trip abroad. He's using that time to polish his woodworking skills. Hey, that garden is not going to build itself.
Let's check in with @LaurentDTardif 👷♂️ pic.twitter.com/OQ5i1NFfz6
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) March 23, 2020
Poor Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Stefen Wisniewski is celebrating his birthday solo. But, as John Clark of NBC Philadelphia points out, he can always break out his two Super Bowl rings if he gets lonely.
Great turnout at my Birthday party this year !!!#QuarantineBday pic.twitter.com/F6862riUfK
— Stefen Wisniewski (@stefenwiz61) March 22, 2020
Trick shots, windmill dunks, video games
Quarantine life is a time to nurture untapped talents. Take Eagles kicker Jake Elliott who, it turns out, can make magic with a golf club, a cup and a flight of stairs.
Think you can do better than @jake_elliott22? Send us your trick shots!#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/aQU6FSttLK
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 23, 2020
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett just needs a 10-foot net and some runway to start a fire.
Never too late to get buckets https://t.co/jJdMAbUuTU pic.twitter.com/ghyAGp26EQ
— Myles "Flash" Garrett ⚡️ (@MylesLGarrett) March 23, 2020
It helps to have online friends to talk to, even if they're not really into football. That didn't stop Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans from gushing to his Fortnite partner about Tom Brady while sipping on some Hennessy.
Mike Evans is streaming Fortnite, drinking Hennessy and giving the people what they need:
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) March 22, 2020
"Bro, I've been on that Hennessy man. ... I'm drinkin'. I've got Tom Brady."
pic.twitter.com/447Kx4FchY
Family time
Taking the training wheels off of your bike is a big deal -- at any age. Just ask New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead and his son Beckett.
#MorsteadQuarantine Day 8
— Thomas Morstead (@thomasmorstead) March 22, 2020
Beckett pic.twitter.com/WhhtJWldrm
Being at home with the family day after day has its own set of challenges, but it's good bonding time, as former NFL players DeMarcus Ware and Jermon Bushrod show.
Once we finished today's homeschool, we had recess 😏 #MondayMood #QuarentineLife pic.twitter.com/Omuca8cuzg
— D-Ware (@DeMarcusWare) March 23, 2020
Just a couple Bushrod's TikTOKing#outwestchallenge pic.twitter.com/VllTb5M6Ro
— Jermon Bushrod (@j_bushrod7475) March 23, 2020
Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his kids replicate some of the great slam dunk tricks -- all on their home's replica Purdue basketball court.
Science experiments are always a fun way to pass the time. The family of Titans punter Brett Kern finds a cool way to show the importance of washing your hands.
The Kern family shows the importance of washing your hands 👏🏽🚿 @brettkern6 pic.twitter.com/sL9CIrjSeT
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) March 21, 2020
Dance party
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III isn't about to stay still while in isolation.
Bet you can't do it like the Griffins 🔥@RGIII
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) March 25, 2020
Follow us on Tik Tok: https://t.co/Fesy63uG1r pic.twitter.com/A0Xg4Pm07e
In-home training
Who needs to go some fancy facility to get work in? As Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen show, the best training partners can be found right at home.
#StayHome workout with @MalcolmJenkins and fam 💪 pic.twitter.com/8ct6xm2qIZ
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) March 26, 2020
My favorite part of the day, routes w/ Asher https://t.co/V6HqF239Lc
— Adam Thielen (@athielen19) March 25, 2020
Survey says
Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey and his family take board games to a whole new level.
Coaches' edition
Add a little music and kitchen ambiance and Denver Broncos coach Vic Fangio is ready to cook some pasta and meatballs.
#BroncosCountry, be like Coach Fangio.
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) March 23, 2020
Stay safe, #StayAtHome & whip up your favorite meal! 🍝 pic.twitter.com/TsOwg9Grga
Dallas Cowboys strength and conditioning coach Markus Paul has all the tips for your home workout.
Cowboys Strength & Conditioning Coordinator Markus Paul shares tips for staying active at home.
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) March 20, 2020
(These videos are for ent. purposes only. You assume any & all risks associated with performing such exercises/routines. Please stop performing if you experience any discomfort). pic.twitter.com/q62E3v8MSC
And finally, for your viewing pleasure ...
Here's Bucs linebacker Devin White riding a horse.