Pregame rituals have become commonplace in the NFL, ranging from rigid superstitions to odd gameday quirks.
Tom Brady used to recite mantras. Patrick Mahomes puts on his lucky underwear. The Commanders linebackers? Well, they enjoy some liquid courage before kickoff.
The unlikely tradition was recently revealed by linebacker Kain Medrano, a second-year player for Washington, according to The Baltimore Banner.
Medrano revealed that on gameday morning, the Commanders linebackers gather in the parking lot and take a shot of tequila before heading to the locker room.
‘Your blood is tingling. We get there. We do our thing. Then once we go inside it’s time to handle business,’ Medrano explained. ‘It’s a cool thing.’
The linebacker claims the routine helps ready the group, adding: ‘You got the tingling sensation going through your body. You are ready to go out there and crash out.’
The Washington Commanders linebackers enjoy a tequila shot on gameday morning
The unusual pregame ritual was revealed by Commanders linebacker Kain Medrano
The 25-year-old, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, revealed that the tradition was sparked by teammate Frankie Luvu last season.
‘When he got into the league, his vets did that for him. So he kind of carried on the tradition. Obviously, coming in as a rookie, I didn’t really know how to feel,’ he said.
The pregame boost seemed to pay off in Washington’s home opener, where Medrano came up with a game-sealing interception against Seahawks QB Sam Darnold.
However, the tequila hasn’t been able to cure a brutal start to the campaign for Dan Quinn’s squad. Washington has stumbled to an 1-3-1 record through five weeks.
The defense has also come under fire for fourth-quarter breakdowns, including a costly collapse in London against the Indianapolis Colts and a late miscue that handed away a crucial divisional clash against the New York Giants.
With their season already on the brink, the Commanders now head into a must-win Monday Night Football showdown against the San Francisco 49ers.
Other NFL players have also previously adopted the ritual as part of their pregame traditions, such as former Washington running back Clinton Portis.
‘Just adrenaline. You know, you take a shot and you were done with it,’ Portis said.
