Packers promote Chris Gizzi to Strength and Conditioning Coordinator
By PackerAaron
Well this is...interesting.
Matt LaFleur has promoted Chris Gizzi to Strength and Conditioning Coordinator while retaining Mark Lovat, who had been the Packers strength coach for years, as an assistant on Gizzi's staff.
#Packers finalize strength & conditioning staff
: https://t.co/ABoOfrBed6 pic.twitter.com/gmMGJiO8BS
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) February 18, 2019
We'll be hearing from LaFleur later today, where he will no doubt be asked about this move.
Gizzi is probably best rememberd for the below:
#Packers LB Chris Gizzi and the flag, 9/24/2001. The first Monday night game after the 9/11 attacks. pic.twitter.com/ITdgZCkZcx
— Jeff Ash (@JeffAshGB) July 4, 2015
Last year, I spoke with Brady Poppinga about Lovat and the Packers strength and conditioning coaches and why the outside critcism of the group is mostly unwarranted:
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Comments (15)
Rebecca.S
February 18, 2019 at 11:01 am
Can we find out what Tramon Williams does for a workout and make Kevin King and the other corners do that? It's insane that a 35 year old can play every snap in a quick twitch position like corner - either he has amazing genetics or takes really good care of his body - probably both.
PackerAaron
February 18, 2019 at 11:20 am
Def both.
Skip greenBayless
February 18, 2019 at 11:41 am
If he can teach each player to carry and respect the flag than I am all in with Gizzi!! Make The Packers Strength and Conditioning Program Great Again!!
Dash
fastmoving
February 18, 2019 at 03:07 pm
Don`t make fun of the crazy wig all the time, its not his fault he has no idea how the flag looks and wich colors are in it. there are simply too much of them to recall.
stick to sports and dont bring comedy in here all the time.
Roadrunner23
February 18, 2019 at 11:44 am
The Packers have needed a complete break from the past here, warranted or not the Packers have been decimated by injuries for years (including their Super Bowl Run).
New staff, new attitude, new ideas, it was time for a change!
Bonus: That Monday Night thing with the flag was a very cool moment in Packers History and one I will always remember!
that is all.....
jannesbjornson
February 18, 2019 at 10:08 pm
No doubt, a bit too cozy at 1265 Lombardi Ave. Maybe they are all under contract and the management is getting tired of paying severance.
Lare
February 18, 2019 at 11:45 am
According to an article at 247 sports, from 2009 through 2017 the Packers lost the sixth-most games in the NFL to key players due to injuries. Keeping things the same isn't going to change that.
Hawg Hanner
February 18, 2019 at 02:43 pm
Yeah how much of that is conditioning. Take away the fractures and concussions. Look at the lost time due to hamstrings. These guys should be doing yoga. Something has to change
LeotisHarris
February 18, 2019 at 01:28 pm
A lot of people are saying a single innovative pitch in the interview sealed the deal for Gizzi; a fitness program built around bowling 3 frames daily using 300 lb bowling balls. Also, not many people know Gizzi's great grandfather invented the Jumping Jack, so there's a legacy here we cannot ignore.
Lare
February 18, 2019 at 02:03 pm
Yes, I'm sure the current S&C staff was retained because any ex-Packer you talk to blames Aaron Rodgers for all the Packers injuries. That seems to be the "In" thing to do these days.
LeotisHarris
February 18, 2019 at 05:58 pm
Exactly! Rodgers set the tone by allowing himself to be injured in the opener. What kind of leadership is that? When the so-called face of the franchise allows himself to be injured, it opens the door for any of the 53 to take the easy way out. I blame Rodgers for all this damn snow!
stockholder
February 19, 2019 at 10:25 pm
Isn't it about time they hire a woman. To many hammy and warm up issues. There some good ones now.
bachperformance
February 20, 2019 at 03:11 pm
This will be interesting. I'm in the fitness industry (formerly S&C coaching world) and don't know a ton about Gizzi. I think it's a strange move keeping Lovat and hope the combination move isn't just changing things for the sake of changing them.
Regarding hamstrings and muscle pulls etc, these injuries most likely aren't a result of "bad" programming, poor flexibility, or weakness. They're technical in terms of how they move (sprint mechanics or change of direction) or...more likely, the result of playing an intense sport that pushes humans to their limit.
Overall, I hope it goes well. But I'm hoping this isn't a case of making a change for the sake of change and trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to performance training.
Slim11
February 25, 2019 at 02:00 pm
I agree.
I looked up Atlas Performance, the fitness company in Chicago Chris Gizzi owned, or was a part-owner of. It is a Cross Fit franchise.
My brother was active with a Cross Fit operation in Dallas several years ago. While my brother is not an athlete, he's active and ran cross country with his daughter in HS and college to help her train. The Cross Fit training really helped him with that.
Gizzi's background as a fitness trainer in the commercial world vs. a fitness trainer in the football world might be a positive thing. IIRC, recent S&C hires in football usually involve someone who has previous experience as a college or NFL S&C coach. Hiring/promoting Gizzi shows a willingness to step outside the box in an attempt to improve the S&C program for the Packers.
This may not be a bad move.
CalPacker
February 23, 2019 at 03:21 pm
Hamstring/groin issues wiping out the entire secondary last year, I lost count of all the other soft tissue casualties... this internal hire seems deeply problematic to me... I'm just not sure the average Packer player is limber enough to even play football...