American football is considered one of the toughest sports in the world. Players must have extreme physical toughness and mental strength. Sebastian Vollmer is a two-time Super Bowl champion and therefore the most successful German in the NFL. He knows what it takes to prevail.
But what exactly does it mean to subordinate your entire life to football, to spend 16 hours every day in a stadium, to have to eat at least 6,000 calories a day and to hardly have a social life? Sebastian told us how he dealt with the special challenges of this sport, how he withstood immense pressure, what it means to him to be famous and what role serendipity has played in his life.
Sebastian, what is the most exciting thing about football for you?
Whether you are tall, short, fat, thin, fast or slow, this sport offers something for every athlete. This is hardly the case in any other sport. Tom Brady, for example, is one of the least athletic players I’ve ever played with; Nevertheless, he is the best there has ever been in his position. I was a 300-pound athlete, so I had to push myself. Accordingly, there are many ways to be successful in this sport.
How did it start with you and football back then?
I grew up playing sports, was a swimmer for a long time and was actually really good at it. But in the water I was always alone with my thoughts, and at some point I didn’t want that anymore. I kind of stumbled into football. I realized how nice it can be to achieve something together with a team. I quickly became good there too; I played for the German national team and for the European team. The step to go to college in the USA was really groundbreaking. There I was lucky enough to receive a lot of support from people who saw paths for me that I couldn’t yet see myself at the time.
What initially challenged you the most in the USA?
I am over 2 meters tall and have a broad build. That was enough for Germany. When I came to the USA at 18, I had to gain 35 kilos. Of course, this doesn’t just work with strength training, but rather with chicken wings and toast. At the time, I didn’t give it a second thought as to whether it would help athletic performance. It was all about gaining weight.
The performance came anyway. How did that go?
Probably because I trained harder than ever before. The first session at 5 a.m., then to university, but that was almost irrelevant. The whole day revolved around training and the games. Exercise a lot, eat a lot and burn a lot of calories. Today I am sure that I would have achieved my goals faster if I had eaten better back then.
What was a typical day like when you were at your best?
As a professional, I lived right next to the stadium so I didn’t waste time. I was there at 5 a.m. and then consumed as many calories as possible, usually a shake with protein powder and peanut butter. Everyday life was dominated by many meetings; we went through moves, analyzed them, and studied them ourselves. A lot of contingencies were practiced – something like: I think he’ll do this, then we’ll do this with it, then… and so on. Physical training usually consisted of 2 hours of football and one hour of strength training per day. In between, always take in lots of calories, no matter how. After 16 hours we went home for dinner and then had something to eat soon afterwards so that the calorie balance was right. Nevertheless, I lost about 10 kilos during the season, which is something I always had to work on. At some point you no longer enjoy eating; it’s more of a compulsion. But it’s just part of the preparation.
You had a position with great responsibility – how were you able to withstand this high pressure?
As an offensive tackle, you indeed have a huge responsibility. If I hadn’t done my job well back then, the offense wouldn’t have worked and our quarterback Tom Brady might have had to take a hard hit. I was fortunate that I played well very early in my career and was highly praised. But what you quickly learn is that praise doesn’t last long. One bad game and you’re the worst player in the world. But I was able to deal with it well. If I had prepared well, I didn’t have to blame myself in the end. Even when I played injured, I always gave it my all. Of course, there is always some nervousness – and it is also necessary to sharpen your senses and achieve top performance.
Winning the Superbowl twice is a great achievement – has that changed you?
The pressure was enormous when we won for the first time. Dealing with the fact that 250 million people are watching you and everyone has an opinion about you is not that easy. This success also attracted a lot of attention in Germany. But it hasn’t changed me – I hope! Of course, from a university student to a football professional, something changes financially. But my character hasn’t changed. I have been with the same woman for 20 years and I now try to pass on to my children that happiness is not just about material possessions. You shouldn’t be jealous, you should be content with what you have. Today I can live differently and take different vacations. As a person I am still the same.
Have you ever had days when you were completely unmotivated while exercising?
Football is a microcosm. If you don’t perform, you’ll be fired very quickly. You can’t afford any misfires. So I always played, even with injuries. You don’t want to give your backup a chance to prove himself. Every position in the team is filled several times, so competition is the order of the day. It’s annoying and tiring, sometimes almost unbearable, but in the long run it makes you better because it forces you to become the best player you can be. That was the best motivation for me.
Otherwise, injured people sit on the bench at most. Why is it different with football?
Football is so fast-paced that you have to get the most out of just a few years. Turn your head off and carry on. You know that you can suffer long-term damage, but the motivation is so great that you try everything, give it your all. It’s truly amazing what a body can endure over a few hours in a match. And after that you can’t move it any more. But all that changed when my wife became pregnant. From then on, things were no longer okay for me. My children didn’t choose my sport, it’s no use to them if their dad sits in the golden wheelchair and can’t play with them. It was then clear to me that I was quitting. I didn’t want to take any more risks.
What did you do after your career ended – and what did the end of your career do to you?
When I stopped I weighed around 150 kilos. I wanted to see how thin and defined I could get. So I weighed every oat flake, measured every movement – and got really annoyed. I really had to relearn that eating is not just work, but also about enjoyment.
Are you still doing sports today?
I still train a lot, but differently. I have a gym at home, I still get up at 5 a.m. every day and then train for one to two hours. I’m fine with that. But I can no longer lift heavy weights. I train to be pain-free and fit. When I’m traveling in Germany, I use the FitX studios. They are available everywhere and they are optimally equipped for me.
Looking back, what is the most important thing you learned during your active time?
Hard work pays off. I always look at what I want to achieve. I don’t do anything that doesn’t further the goal. Is a party helpful for the next match? No, so I’m not going. I put everything aside for sport. This makes it easier to make decisions. Even today.
Would you do everything exactly the same again today?
Some decisions were definitely not smart. I ruined my shoulder because I didn’t have surgery because that would have meant being out for a few months. Now I have no cartilage in my shoulder and pain. Nevertheless, at the point when I decided to continue playing, it was the right decision. It would be wrong to judge it differently now, looking back. It was all good for something.
Did you have a plan for after your career?
No, there was only football for me. I first fell into a hole. Vacation is only vacation because you have worked beforehand. Having nothing to do for months was exhausting. I was lucky enough to be picked up quickly and have something to do again. Now I can help shape the development of football and the Patriots in Europe. Football continues to open doors for me, and I’m very grateful. Sport has given me so much, now I can give something back.
You’ve often said here that you were lucky. To what extent?
I was often in the right place at the right time and with the right people. Nevertheless, you also have to be prepared for the big opportunity. This may only come along once in your life, and then you have to use it. I didn’t just rely on luck. The fact that I was drafted into the NFL by a top team like the New England Patriots paved the way for me very well. Nevertheless, I was challenged to make something of it myself. Now I enjoy the happiness of watching my children grow up. And that I can now organize my time freely.
Former football professional Sebastian Vollmer played as an offensive tackle for the New England Patriots from 2009 to 2016. With the team he was the only German to date to win the Superbowl twice, the finale for the championship of the US professional league NFL. After his career, he remained loyal to football as an expert and TV commentator on TV. As a keynote speaker he speaks on the topic of mindset. He has written books about his career, such as “What it takes… how I managed to be successful in the NFL” (Riva, 20 euros). Despite all this, Vollmer’s family is never neglected.
