Former NFL star Jordan Gross shocked fans with his rapid body transformation after retiring in 2014.
During his impressive 11-season tenure with the Carolina Panthers, Gross made the Pro Bowl team three times and played in Super Bowl XXXVIII. His career on the gridiron necessitated a calorie-dense diet loaded with bacon, eggs and plenty of protein shakes.
However, at age 33, offensive tackle Gross hung up his cleats, prompted by concerns about potential chronic ankle issues, and was determined to reduce his 305lb (21.7 stone) playing weight. He quickly saw the pounds melt away by adopting two simple but effective rules: mindful eating and regular exercise.
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Three months after leaving the field, Gross told WCNC: “Well, I’m down about 50lbs from the season and it feels a lot better. It’s always something I always wanted to do. All us players talk about when we’re done, we’re going to lose weight, look better in clothes and all that stuff.
“Really it’s about health and I knew that all the work I put in and damage I did to my body, it’s important to get fit. I’ve never been a big believer in a diet or fitness crazes. For me, I watch what I eat. I try to eat lean foods, fruits and vegetables. Try to eat anything that’s not processed more often throughout the day to try and speed up my metabolism.”
“I get exercise every day. I don’t do any one thing,” Gross continued. “I’ll ride my bike, take the dog for a walk, do an aerobics boxing class, do the elliptical, and lift weights. Every day, I try to move and be active. The biggest thing is just about feeling better, and that’s what my focus has been on.”
By that summer, Gross had lost another 20lbs (1.4 stone) by engaging in activities that were off-limits during his time with the Panthers, such as trail running and slalom water skiing. Gross shed the weight without employing a personal trainer or dietician, instead bidding farewell to his former high-carb diet.
Running an organic vegetable farm in Idaho has also kept him fit. As Gross pointed out in a discussion with the Panthers back in 2021, his farming duties alone can amount to 30,000 steps a day. Juggling farm work with his position as a Panthers analyst, Gross highlighted the significance of establishing a new health routine in retirement.
“People can’t fathom that you’d lose this much weight,” Gross said to the Charlotte Observer in 2014. “I always told everybody, ‘I can’t wait till I’m done, I can lose weight’. Everybody says that. But it had to happen.
“I’ve seen guys hobbled up and heavy, or one or the other. And I sure thought if I can prevent that, that’s what I wanted to do.”
Gross, who started bulking up at the University of Utah, was a first-round draft pick and found the weight gain beneficial for his career. He later confessed that he chose to retire despite feeling capable of playing for a few more years due to concerns about his long-term health.
Gross managed to avoid major injuries, but the offensive tackle did have to undergo three ankle surgeries during his career. However, he admitted that the pain and swelling decreased once he reached 250 lbs. “Fans know me more for losing weight than they do for anything I did in my entire career,” Gross shared with ESPN in 2020.