Buccaneers All-Pro offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs has quickly made a name for himself in his three NFL seasons. But, as the 24-year-old explained Friday, the desire to address concerns regarding his mental health has played a key role in his preparation for a new challenge in year four.
Speaking to reporters from training camp, Wirfs shared he’s now in a better headspace after meeting with the team’s sports psychologist, Dr. Joe Carella, throughout the offseason due to the anxiety he felt while preparing to switch from right to left tackle. The switch will mark the first time the two-time Pro Bowler has played on the left side in the NFL following 46 career games at right tackle.
“I think just that the negative thoughts have been outweighed by the positive thoughts now,” Wirfs said, according to USA Today. “I have been meeting with our team sports psychologist to try and help it a little bit, because I was in a really rough spot mentally.”
In regards to the negative thoughts, Wirfs admitted he’s dealt with self-doubt since his rookie season in 2020. Those emotions were heightened once he learned of the position switch this spring, which led to Wirfs having “breakdowns” over the thought of mastering his new role prior to seeking guidance.
“It seems like so minuscule, like, ‘Oh, you’re just flipping sides,’ but I was like having breakdowns about it,” he added, per ESPN. “I’m like, ‘I can’t sit here with these thoughts anymore, I’m just kind of setting myself up for failure.’ I would just think about, ‘I am going to suck’ or like, ‘I am not going to be able to do it’ all day long.”
As one of the NFL’s best O-linemen, Wirfs, the No. 13 pick in 2020, has made his dominance look easy since the Iowa product entered the NFL facing high expectations. But as he alluded to, moving to arguably the game’s most important position besides quarterback will be no small feat.
For the last three years, Wirfs became accustomed to pressure after being tasked with protecting Tom Brady’s right side. Wirfs’s standout rookie season, which saw Tampa Bay win Super Bowl LV, set him in motion for a run that included first-team All-Pro and second-team All-Pro nods in 2021 and ’22 respectively, and back-to-back Pro Bowls.
While Wirfs acknowledged he’s still making strides, the level of confidence both he and coach Todd Bowles expressed in his ability bode well for his prospects on the field this fall.
“If you put him somewhere, he’ll challenge himself to be the best he can be at it,” Bowles said Friday, via USA Today. “We’re very comfortable having him over there, I think he’s very comfortable over there.”
“[Offensive line] Coach Joe [Gilbert] told me, ‘I am not going to let you fail,’” said Wirfs. “They trust me and they put me in this position. I want to go out there and do the best that I can and show that I can do it.”
With the preseason approaching, a rejuvenated Wirfs will likely see little action but, with Week 1 scheduled for Sept. 10, he won’t have to wait long to kick off the next phase of his career when the Bucs travel on the road to face the Vikings.
