Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Detailed Why This 1 Exercise Is Really Important

As we’ve already reported, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy’s “QB School” and development of Aaron Rodgers and other young quarterbacks has been much-discussed. But as Rodgers has mentioned, the rules around offseason training have tightened. McCarthy doesn’t have the coaching time he did in the 2000s, but one thing there’s always time for is jump rope.

Rodgers has called jump rope “a really important footwork thing” (per The Athletic). Steelers Will Howard and Mason Rudolph – who were put through the same drills, including side-to-side jump ropes – nicknamed Phase 1 of the offseason program the “QB Olympics”. 

Rodgers’ unconventional footwork has been debated for years, but here are four other top athletes who have benefitted from jump rope, and whose footwork is undeniably one of their qualities.

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic may not be the greatest in the eyes of every tennis fan, but judging by Grand Slam count and an array of other records, he’s undeniably the most successful men’s player in history. His 24 Slams, as well as an Olympics Gold medal, were won in large part thanks to extraordinary dynamic balance and footwork.

Djokovic has posted online content of him using a jump rope, including single-leg hops, and is known for his dedication to training. In a 2018 interview, Djokovic said his baseline game was fundamental, and that it required good footwork. The Serb said “hard work” was the key. His foot speed and coordination are now enabling him to compete at the highest level a good decade after many tennis pros reach their peak.

Muhammad Ali

Often considered the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali’s jump rope was a fundamental part of his training. Ali’s footwork was unusual for his relatively straight legs. Expert Boxing has argued that athletes should use their bones and joints more to transfer and deliver strength, rather than having an exaggerated knee bend and relying on muscles. Ali was a big enough fan of jump rope to endorse a “Rope-A-Dope” branded product; his signature was printed on the “official” box.

If Ali was alive today, he’d be prime social media material: slogan-like fighting talk, poetry, philosophy, and rebellion. But his live boxing matches may have been too much for younger viewers raised on short-form content. Many streaming networks are discovering that full-length sports matches are alienating younger viewers, with some considering an OTT strategy adjusted for Gen Z.

LeBron James

A friend of Djokovic’s, LeBron James is another to have posted skipping content online. James has been at the top of basketball for over two decades, and his workout plans (often discussed by fans and coaches) have included rope skills. NBA players need explosive movement, lateral agility, and also the endurance to perform for 48 minutes dozens of times per season.

James is one of basketball’s successful players of all time; he has won the NBA four times, holds four MVP awards and four Finals MVPs, was named Rookie of the Year way back in 2004, and has played in the All-Star game a remarkable 22 times. James’ feet, rather than his footwork, have been debated more recently: photos showed his unusual toe alignment and visible signs of wear after decades of training and games.

Serena Williams

The more successful of two extremely successful tennis sisters, Serena Williams holds 23 Slam titles and has recently returned to professional play in her mid-40s. Williams has been a champion of jump rope throughout her career, having touted the benefits in documentaries and her own fitness video. Her father and coach was a boxing fan and noted that boxers had the best footwork. His logic was that tennis players, if they wanted similar qualities, should jump rope too.

Williams dominated women’s tennis for decades by combining a warrior mentality, powerful serving and groundstrokes, and precise footwork. She was often as comfortable on her backhand as her forehand, and would even sometimes move around her forehand in order to hit a backhand. Whatever the movement, Serena usually executed it perfectly.

So there we have it; four of the most successful sportspeople in history, and Rodgers isn’t alone in liking jump rope.