How the Atlanta Falcons Use BFR to Push Boundaries and Increase Resilience

In the NFL, athletes are constantly striving to gain a competitive advantage. With the demands of the game pushing them to new limits, the Atlanta Falcons have turned to BFR (Blood Flow Restriction) training to access new levels of strength, endurance and recovery. 

We spoke with John Griffin, Director of Player Personnel, to understand how the Atlanta Falcons integrate BFR into their programming with Hytro and how it is helping their athletes maximise their physical potential. 

Game day +1: The road to peak strength and endurance 

After every game, the focus shifts to restoring range of motion and optimising physical readiness. As John explains, “The objective of today's session for us, game day plus one, is to restore range of motion and pretty much get guys back to homeostasis, honestly trying to achieve long muscle lengths.” 

However, this process is not static. The Falcons adjust their protocols based on three critical factors. “A session like today fluctuates based on one, guys’ yardages; two, the injury status of our team holistically; and three, what the plan is for practice later in the week,” says John. 

BFR plays a key role in maximising these attributes while reducing unnecessary strain on the body. John explains, "In-season, you don’t really have a lot of time to train guys, so you have to be efficient with your time. Having a product like Hytro gives us the flexibility to train the team holistically rather than focusing on individuals. It increases our efficiency throughout the season." 

He also highlights that the Hytro BFR Shorts allows them to achieve the desired training stimulus without overloading players with heavy weights, which is particularly crucial as the season progresses. "We’re looking for cell swelling and metabolic stimulus without adding extra load. With Hytro, we can target those effects effectively, ensuring that our players stay strong without accumulating unnecessary fatigue," he adds. 

How the Falcons use Hytro to enhance athletic performance 

The Falcons utilise Hytro BFR on active days to stimulate muscle growth, enhance endurance and accelerate recovery. John explains, “Blood Flow Restriction helps us in a manner that we can de-load a lot of the athletes, and we don't have to use as much weight when we want to train them.” 

For game day +1 sessions, the team primarily uses BFR in two ways. “Most of our BFR use will occur on the bike. For those guys, we're telling them 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off at a moderate intensity, just trying to get some blood flow to their legs,” John explains. “Then, when they get their isos, we’ll give them isos today, five seconds on, five seconds off.” 

Tracking performance and progress 

Data is essential for tracking improvements in strength and endurance. After each session, the Falcons monitor key metrics to assess player development. "As far as metrics and feedback, we'll do a load support every single day on a day like today after game day with our guys, kind of give them some status updates on what they're feeling like,” says John. “We’ll also jump guys today. So, they'll jump as high as they can, and we use that as a readiness measure for week to week.” 

Griffin emphasises that these insights help tailor individual training programmes, ensuring athletes continue to push their limits in a controlled and effective manner. 

Player buy-in and the benefits of Hytro 

Adjusting to BFR was a new experience for many Falcons players, but the results quickly won them over. “Initially, when guys put them on, they were taken back by basically how much work they can do with a little amount of weight,” John shared. “But once they take them off and start moving around, they realise the impact.” 

The portability and ease of use of Hytro also set it apart from other products. “We can do a session on the field, in the weight room, in the locker room, pre-game, post-game,” John explains. “It just allows us a ton of variety in terms of where we're at.” 

The best ability is availability 

As legendary NFL coach Bill Parcells once said, “The best ability is availability.” Injury rates are a huge predictor of success in the NFL. The final four Super Bowl contenders this season had the lowest injury rates all year, demonstrating the undeniable link between player availability and winning. In fact, data shows a strong correlation between keeping players on the field and team success. Injury prevention is key to winning. 

Recovery and preparation are two of the most effective tools in an athlete’s arsenal. Hytro BFR is already trusted by the Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills, two of this year’s Playoff finalists, who understand the importance of maintaining player availability and maximising performance potential. 

Building a culture of competitive advantage 

The Falcons’ approach to training is not just about completing sessions, it is about unlocking new levels of performance. Griffin describes the Falcons’ staff as a resource centre for the players, acknowledging that the season is long and demanding. “Our objective is to create an environment that guys want to be in. They want to have internal motivation to come in and get better,” says John. 

With Hytro BFR, the Falcons  now have a game-changing tool that helps their athletes push boundaries, improve resilience and stay at the top of their game. 

Hytro BFR is not just for elite athletes. Whether you are striving for greater strength, endurance or recovery, Hytro makes BFR accessible, effective, and easy to integrate into your routine.

Find out more about how other teams are using Hytro to gain a competitive advantage.