Purdy vs. Mahomes: Which Super Bowl LVIII QB Has Better Sleep Habits?

It takes a lot of training to get these two star athletes into the shape they need to emerge victorious, but it also takes an emphasis on proper recovery. After all, the body—and mind—will break down if it doesn’t get the rest needed to repair muscles and boost brain function. 

Even the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Trusted Source BMJ Journals The BMJ, a is one of the world's oldest general medical journals and is published by the British Medical Association. View Source and the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) have officially addressed the importance of sleep for athletes, and for a good reason: Research shows that proper sleep—or lack thereof—can impact an athlete’s risk of injury, including concussions, muscle strength and activation, and overall stamina, as well as reaction time, executive function, decision-making, and memory. Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source

Luckily, the teams’ top-tier quarterbacks don’t fall prey to poor sleep habits. Mahomes follows a consistent sleep schedule. He wakes at 7 a.m. and heads to bed by 10 p.m. at the latest, getting plenty of rest, GQ magazine reported in 2020. He reportedly slept 14 hours and 52 minutes before a 2021 faceoff between the Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. It paid off with a final score of 34-28 for Mahomes and his team.  

Additionally, data from WHOOP, a recovery wearable licensed by the NFL Players Association, showed that Mahomes puts an even stronger emphasis on sleep during the playoffs, having increased his average sleep period during the 2021 playoff season by 8.1% compared to the regular season. (Although Mahome’s wife also claims he eats Doritos in bed every night before going to sleep, a habit with questionable health benefits.)

Purdy isn’t one to skimp on sleep, either, clocking at least 9 hours a night. His bedtime routine starts at the early bird hour of 6 p.m. when he puts on blue light-blocking glasses to wear while using screens. Around 8 p.m., he takes a hot shower, stashes the phone, and reads a book before drifting off. This regimen, Purdy told The Athletic, made a real difference in returning to—and succeeding on—the field after his March 2023 elbow surgery. As a rookie, he admits to still learning from the team’s veterans about what it takes to get the best rest and recovery for peak performance.

Purdy and Mahomes might be competing for football’s biggest prize, but even at-home athletes can take a cue from the sport’s elite to maximize their own fitness performance. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Trusted Source American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research. View Source recommends at least 7 hours of sleep a night for adults. When you hit that amount, you might run faster, throw better, and react more quickly. If you’re not currently exercising as much as you’d like and you’re having sleep problems, take note: The benefits go both ways. Regular exercise improves sleep, Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source and that sounds like a real win-win situation.