Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals How NFL Legend Joe Namath Inspired Him to Promote Bodybuilding as a Sport

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian Oak, once found himself at a crossroads. He had just moved to America and was working on bodybuilding, but fame and money evaded him. It was a time when the sport lacked the allure of sponsorships and the glitter of public attention, compelling Schwarzenegger to venture into bricklaying to make ends meet.

In the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, he sat down with Jason and Travis Kelce. He even said that it was because of the NFL that bodybuilding enjoys the status that it does now.

Arnold Schwarzenegger gives props to the NFL legend

“I had to go into bricklaying. I made no money in bodybuilding. There was nothing—sponsorships or anything.” Amidst this struggle, an unlikely inspiration emerged. Joe Namath was basking in the glory of his sports career, enjoying widespread media coverage and lucrative endorsement deals. Schwarzenegger, while watching television, stumbled upon Namath’s advertisements and features in prominent magazines.

That got him riled up. “And he plays in all the covers of the magazines. All the articles about this, this endorsement and then way back then he gets a million dollars for an endorsement way back then.” He even confessed that he was jealous of Namath. However, he used the negative emotion to push him to promote bodybuilding as a sport. Arnold made it his life’s mission to “start promoting bodybuilding competitions to raise the cash prizes and sponsorships”. And the rest, as we know, is history.

Later in the podcast, he made a promise to do something special for the sport that helped him in his NFL journey.

Schwarzenegger to take the Super Bowl to the White House?

The Terminator traded Hollywood for politics in 2003 when he took over the California governorship, which he then held until 2011. Now 76, he has no plans to get back into politics at this point, but he entertained the thought for a hot second while recently taking a seat with the Kelce brothers.

“Arnold Schwarzenegger as President,” Jason declared during the conversation. Arnie then jokingly pledged one significant Super Bowl move he’d make if he ever got into the Oval Office, laughing all the time. “We would have the Super Bowl on the South Lawn of the White House,” Arnie joked. “That I can guarantee you right now.”

He said his proposition wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility, citing the fact that President John F. Kennedy used to host events right outside the White House when he was in the presidency. Of course, Arnie’s pledge was humorous, and it’s conceivable that he may never be President of the United States because the president and vice president must be natural-born citizens.

Read More: “Mentzer Really Should Have Won”: Decades After Controversial 1980 Mr. Olympia, Fans Accuse Arnold Schwarzenegger of Robbing Mike Mentzer