Training American football quarterbacks in the NFL with Josh Nelson

In this episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob interviews Josh Nelson, the Director of Performance Science for the Atlanta Falcons. Josh shares his journey from a coaching family to his current role, discussing the key qualities he prioritizes when training quarterbacks. He delves into the differences between in-season and off-season training, the importance of upper body strength, and how he assesses movement quality. The importance of a multifaceted testing regime is highlighted, with reference to implementing training strategies guided by testing data. Josh also talks about managing backup quarterbacks, innovations in training such as blood flow restriction (BFR), and the significance of transferring training to the field. Quarterbacks should be treated as athletes rather than just specialists. In-season training focuses on maintaining practice availability and reducing injury risk. Isometrics play a crucial role in strength training for quarterbacks. Movement quality assessment is vital for quarterback performance. Backup quarterbacks need tailored training to prepare for unexpected opportunities. BFR has been a game changer in training efficiency and recovery. Creating benchmarks for performance metrics is essential for quarterback development. Transfer of training to on-field performance is a key focus.