“This is a validation of everything that I’ve done,” says Dan Cerrillo, the owner of CrossFit Bellevue in Bellevue, Wash. “It’s a great honor.”
Cerrillo has been training Matt Hasselbeck, former Seattle Seahawks QB and current Tennessee Titan.
Hasselbeck says his first exposure with CrossFit came from his brother Tim, who CrossFitted and impressed his family with his “chiseled” physique. Their father, Don, a veteran Reebok sports-marketing executive and Super Bowl champion, started CrossFit and also impressed Matt.
“He looked like me,” Matt says. “I need to step up my game.”
Hasselbeck was skeptical at first, but he gave CrossFit a try. He knew it would be hard but good, but he had no idea if it would transfer over to the gridiron.
“The thing I didn’t know is how much of this stuff would really help me in the season,” he says.
Thinking he was already in good shape, Hasselbeck says the workout Cindy was a rude awakening for him.
“He was dying, he was crushed, and he was obliterated,” Cerrillo says.
Since Hasselbeck has been training at CrossFit, both his perspective and his fitness have been transformed.
“I bought in. I love it. I’m in,” he says.
“I feel so much stronger than when I started. I feel ready for the NFL season to come,” Hasselbeck says.
In his first start for his new team, Hasselbeck threw for 263 yards and 2 TDs in a narrow 2-point loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. In Week 2, Hasselbeck amassed 358 yards and 1 TD in a victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
Looks like he was ready for the season.
12min 3sec
Additional reading: If the Shoe Fits by Kevin Daigle, published Feb. 7, 2011.