ESPN Profiles Vegan NFL Player Griff Whalen

In a recent feature by sports media outlet ESPN, staff writer James Walker profiled Miami Dolphins’ wide receiver (and vegan) Griff Whalen. Walker points out that Whalen’s diminutive frame and the fact that he went undrafted were disadvantages the player has countered by adopting a vegan diet. “It doesn’t matter how hard you train,” Whalen said, “there’s a certain limit to how much you can do on the field or in the weight room.” The National Football League player—who was recently signed by the Dolphins after four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts—also revealed that his diet intrigues fellow players. “When we sit down at lunch, it’s hard to not notice that all I’ve got is veggies on my plate. So yeah, it comes up all the time, and guys are genuinely interested.” Whalen chose to go vegan for both health and ethical reasons and is among a growing number of professional athletes—including fellow football players David Carter and Tyrann Mathieu—who are turning to veganism to improve their longevity and performance.