Inspiration
Quinn Meinerz' workouts in the Canadian forest are legendary. They helped transform him from a D-III lineman to a 3rd round draft pick for the Denver Broncos. His commitment to hard work actually started after his freshman year of high school, when he gained 80 pounds (yes, you read that right), along with a new nickname - The Gut. By the time he graduated, he was 6'2", 315 pounds, and a three-sport athlete, but his best option for college football was at Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Meinerz has remarkable intrinsic motivation. “Most of my motivation comes from within myself,” Meinerz
says. “Part of that is a line my dad always said, ‘If you’re going to do something, why not be the best at it?’ That’s always my answer when people ask me that. I’m always trying to be the best at whatever I’m doing. . . I really enjoy proving people wrong, and also proving myself right.” That mentality shone through in college, as he continued to train and improve. He became an All-American as a junior, only to see his senior year cancelled by COVID. So, he devoted himself to training, while teaching himself how to play center. He was
invited to the Senior Bowl, where repeated pancake blocks highlighted his work ethic. The Broncos selected Meinerz 98th overall in the draft, despite having missed an entire year of football.
After three years in the NFL, Meinerz is considered one of the top guards in the league. Rather than focus on accolades, however, he has focused on continuing his improvement. The Broncos rewarded him with a 4-year, $80 million contract. In typical Meinerz fashion, he thanked those around him, starting with his wife, his dad, and his agent. Fun-loving, hard-working, and down-to-earth, Quinn Meinerz, is easy to root for.