Steelers: James Harrison’s creative workout

The Steelers have a linebacker, James Harrison, who likes to work out, famously so. Given his on field performance over the past decade and a half it probably goes without saying. But still, he likes to say it.

It’s become an annual offseason tradition, being in awe of James Harrison’s various workout routines. Usually what impresses us is sheer weight of what he’s working with. But in this instance it’s the creativity.

Whether it’s benchpress or squat or any number of ways to lift a weight, James Harrison can lift a great deal. On occasion it will be shared on social media, either from Harrison or another Steeler. Then it gets shared. Then it finds a home on sports websites like this one in articles like this one where the author points out to you that James Harrison is a freak, in case you didn’t know.

James Harrison’s gotten creative before. A video of him doing pushups with Antonio Brown sitting on his back made the rounds. Later, he topped that with a video of him doing pushups with Maurkice Pouncey on his back. That’s over 300 pounds of man on you, plus your own weight.

The most recent video making the rounds is of James Harrison, among others, playing some beach volleyball. Nice little cardio workout, right? Toughen up those ligaments on the sand? Those meager returns are not the Harrison way. Harrison plays with a medicine ball.

Medicine balls, for those who aren’t familiar, would be more aptly named heavy balls. They are not medicine, though occasionally used for physical therapy, but they’re heavy. They’re not inflated. They do not bounce. So don’t get it twisted. The only thing about a medicine ball that is ball-like in the conventional sense is its spherical shape.

So, check out this video of Harrison play volleyball with a medicine ball from his Instagram. As you can see from this video, like any strength building workout, technique is the key. A workout like this is good for building explosiveness. It’s a very plyometric approach.

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It’s also a potentially dangerous one. If a person was to play this game as if it was conventional volleyball they would destroy their joints and ligaments and tendons. But notice the technique involved. Players catch the ball and slow it’s momentum and then push it back over the net, rather than punching, swatting, or jabbing at it.

Apparently this game is called Danneyball. And it was being played in the 100 degree heat down in Arizona where Harrison does his offseason workouts. It was created by trainer Ian Danney, hence the name.

This is all the more impressive considering the fact that Harrison is now 38 years old. This guy is extremely physically unique. This is not normal. It’s not even normal for a guy his age to play in the NFL. He’s certainly not the only 38 year to play in the NFL, but at linebacker it’s pretty rare. It’s one of those positions, like running back, that takes a toll on a person.

So what are we to do with this information? Well, be grateful I suppose. First, that Harrison will be on our team next year and once again help us get to the Super Bowl. His age may limit his reps but when he’s on the field he’s still the best outside linebacker the Steelers have.

Second, Harrison was cut by the Steelers once. He even played in Germany for a year. He eventually got back to the Steelers on special teams. He made a name for himself there and took the starting linebacker role when his now coach Joey Porter left. He went on to be defensive player of the year.

What’s my point? Work ethic. James Harrison got everything he has by working on it. The Steelers have been stacking the defense with young talent for several years now. When you’re so talented you can do well without working hard. James Harrison is leading by example. Steelers fans know he’s not a vocal guy. He scowls and does what he does.

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Hopefully his impact on the Steelers lives far beyond him through the lessons he teaches, merely by being James Harrison.