What Do Football Players Eat Before Games? (Slideshow)

Before every game, the Denver Broncos quarterback eats two pieces of grilled chicken, pasta with marinara sauce, a plain baked potato, and broccoli, and he washes it down with a Gatorade. 

The former linebacker for the Chicago Bears had an interesting pre-game dining superstition: he'd eat two chocolate chip cookies. 

This fullback spent the bulk of his career with the 49ers, and before every game he's enjoy a big breakfast of steak and eggs, along with a big glass of water. 

Offensive tackle Willie Anderson spent 11 years with the Cincinnati Bengals, and ate a pretty huge meal before each game: a bowl of oatmeal, fruit, a baked potato, some sausage, water, and Gatorade. 

The 6'4” quarterback for the St. Louis Rams also has an interesting pre-game eating ritual: he'll only eat everything in threes. He usually sticks with fruit, so that means that on his plate you'll find three slices of pineapple, three of cantaloupe, and the like. Whatever works!

Three hours before the game, the team chef will put out a lavish spread, and the team will go to town. But when it gets closer to starting time, he'll come back with a platter of chicken breast for the team so they can do some pre-game protein-loading. 

Jennings has a fear of birds, so he's one of the only football players you'll meet who never eats chicken. Before each game during the 12 seasons he spent with the San Francisco 49ers, he'd dine on a filet mignon with a side of brown rice and vegetables. 

The center for the Detroit Lions takes a protein-heavy route before each game, eating chicken breast and an egg white omelette. 

The Lions' wine receiver enjoys a pretty standard breakfast before gametime: eggs, bacon, and potatoes. 

The Dallas Cowboys' wine receiver/ return specialist fills his plate up with three choices that don't really go together: an omelette, spaghetti, and broccoli. But hey, you've got your protein, carbs, and fiber all in one place!