One of the NFL’s most intimidating defenders plans to one day get his sons involved in wrestling.

 

Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, a former first-round draft pick from the University of Southern California, is regarded as one of the toughest players at his position, even if injuries have slowed him in recent seasons.

 

A guest on his trainer Joe DeFranco’s “Industrial Strength” podcast, Cushing was asked what other sport he thinks he could have played professionally had he dedicated himself to it.

 

“Probably UFC,” Cushing said. “I think with the UFC now, too, what you see is, and what I’m going to have my sons hopefully do, is wrestle. Just the core (strength), the balance, the stability.”

 

“Just better body awareness (and) everything, at a young age,” DeFranco said.

 

“Every (UFC) fight you always see goes to the ground, and who’s going to win that? A wrestler,” Cushing said. “So I mean that’s important, and we’ll talk about that another day when (my sons) get a little older.”

 

“Those wrestlers are a pain in the ass to deal with,” DeFranco said. “Look how good they do in the UFC, so that’s a testament to how good they are.”

 

The dialogue begins at 1:12:45 of the podcast episode, if you want to listen yourself. 

 

A graduate of Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, N.J., Cushing earned 2009 Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and was a 2010 Pro Bowl selection.

 

Apparently, Cushing still follows his alma mater closely, as evidenced by a Twitter post he retweeted this month about highly touted wrestler Josh McKenzie’s high school choice.

 

Bergen Catholic gets top player in NJ -- http://t.co/ksyjzLvAaY 2019 was wanted by every school. @briancushing56 pic.twitter.com/NtwZtevPxN

— Mike Farrell (@rivalsmike) April 7, 2015

 

This video shows McKenzie, who hasn’t lost in nearly four years, in a 119-pound middle school match from February 2013. In high school wrestling, Bergen Catholic has been the top team in the NJSIAA the past two years and has been ranked in the Top 20 in the country.

 

Known for his maniacal training regimen, Cushing has worked out with UFC legend Chuck Liddell and other fighters.

 

“They were a little better than me at that,” Cushing said on the podcast. “Even the little bit I did, I was just  getting better and better. I do enjoy a good fight. So, I mean, there’s something to that, too.”

Anytime Cushing wants to join us for a wrestling session, we’re game!