Russell Okung shared his remarkable physical transition after three years off the football field, along with some insight into how he accomplished it.
As Okung explained in a recent social media post, he has now shifted his attention to his post-playing days, with fasting becoming a key component in the next phase of his life. Okung revealed he has lost over 100 pounds since his playing days, saying he accomplished the feat by fasting for 40 days, having nothing but water.
Okung has not played in the NFL since 2020, the first year in which he considered hanging up his cleats. He suffered a pulmonary embolism due to blood clots the season prior, which limited him to six games. In a one-off campaign with the Panthers in 2020, the former first-rounder appeared in (and started) seven contests at left tackle.
The 34-year-old wasn’t satisfied with the offers he received on the open market in 2021, and he wound up sitting out the past two seasons.
As the Seahawks’ top pick in 2010 (sixth overall), Okung was the first draft choice of the Pete Carroll/John Schneider era in Seattle. He spent six years in the Emerald City, starting all 72 games he appeared in and earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2012. He followed that up with a Super Bowl victory the following season, and later continued his career with the Broncos, Chargers (with whom he was again named a Pro Bowler in 2017) and Panthers.
Overall, the Oklahoma State product totaled over $190M in career earnings. With respect to finances, he became known for promoting bitcoin as a form of compensation. His Panthers contract allowed him to convert portions of his salary into the cryptocurrency, and he remains an advocate for athlete-driven entrepreneurship. More of his focus might be aimed in that direction as he writes his post-football chapters.
More must-reads: