Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
In this episode of Iron Culture, Eric Trexler interviews Dr. Marc Lewis, the director of Applied Sports Science for the Houston Texans. They discuss the role of sports scientists in maximizing athlete performance through data collection, management, and analysis. Marc shares insights on the day-to-day responsibilities of a sports scientist, the importance of understanding athlete load and stress, and the evolution of sports science in the NFL. They also explore the future of sports science careers and provide advice for aspiring sports scientists.
Need some lifting gear? Use our discount code (MRR10) over at elitefts.com
Check out Dr. Lewis' new book here:
sportsciencenetwork.com/handbook
Keep up-to-date with Dr. Lewis and his projects:
drmarclewis.com
Instagram: @marctlewis
Twitter/X: @marctlewis
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Sports Science in Football
01:47 What Does a Sports Scientist Do?
7:26 From Data to Decisions
11:00 Navigating the Data Overload
23:13 Applied Data Versus Peer-Reviewed Evidence
27:20 Applying Sports Science Insights to Strength Coaching
34:46 The Reality of Overtraining in Elite Sport Versus General Fitness
45:17 The Extremes of Human Performance
51:01 Unique Needs of Elite Athletes
56:45 The Current State (and Future) of Sports Science in America
1:09:46 Building a Career in Sports Science
In this episode of Iron Culture, Eric Trexler interviews Dr. Marc Lewis, the director of Applied Sports Science for the Houston Texans. They discuss the role of sports scientists in maximizing athlete performance through data collection, management, and analysis. Marc shares insights on the day-to-day responsibilities of a sports scientist, the importance of understanding athlete load and stress, and the evolution of sports science in the NFL. They also explore the future of sports science careers and provide advice for aspiring sports scientists.
Need some lifting gear? Use our discount code (MRR10) over at elitefts.com
Check out Dr. Lewis' new book here:
sportsciencenetwork.com/handbook
Keep up-to-date with Dr. Lewis and his projects:
drmarclewis.com
Instagram: @marctlewis
Twitter/X: @marctlewis
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Sports Science in Football
01:47 What Does a Sports Scientist Do?
7:26 From Data to Decisions
11:00 Navigating the Data Overload
23:13 Applied Data Versus Peer-Reviewed Evidence
27:20 Applying Sports Science Insights to Strength Coaching
34:46 The Reality of Overtraining in Elite Sport Versus General Fitness
45:17 The Extremes of Human Performance
51:01 Unique Needs of Elite Athletes
56:45 The Current State (and Future) of Sports Science in America
1:09:46 Building a Career in Sports Science
