Hayden Hurst takes the first month after an NFL campaign completely off to relax, rewind, reset. The Falcons tight end doesn't let the offseason last any longer than that.
Once the calendar page turns, it's freaking on.
"I hit it pretty hard," Hurst said after Thursday's OTA session. "I try to get as strong and as fast as I possibly can. I'll do whatever it takes to do that, whether it's lifting for three hours and hitting the field after that. That's just how I'm wired."
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Intense workouts are an offseason staple, though Hurst took things a bit farther this year by taking away some indulgences. What he put into his body became as important as energy expelled getting in great shape.
"This year was big for me, adding the diet to my routine as well," Hurst said. "I'm down to almost eight percent body fat right now. I'm definitely a man on a mission this year. I have a lot of reasons to play a little bit harder."
Take a look through tight end Hayden Hurst's life on and off the field in this player spotlight gallery.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 looks on in the tunnel before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 29, 2020.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 fist bumps Arthur Blank at IBM Performance Field on August 31, 2020 in Flowery Branch, GA. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Cleats worn by Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 for the 2020 My Cause, My Cleats campaign raising awareness for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention/Hayden Hurst Family Foundation.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is lit at night on November 30, 2020 in royal purple and gold to honor the Hayden Hurst Foundation, Hayden Hurst's cause for My Cause My Cleats. (Photo by Adam Hagy/AMB Sports & Entertainment)
South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst (81) is seen in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst (81) plays against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 in action during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos on November 8, 2020. (Photo by Kyle Hess/Atlanta Falcons)
FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2018, file photo, Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst rushes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, in Cleveland. Rookie tight end Hayden Hurst, the Ravens' top pick in the NFL draft, has just one catch and is still seeking to become a significant contributor. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)
Commissioner Roger Goodell poses with a fan after the Baltimore Ravens selected South Carolina's Hayden Hurst during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst (81) in action during an NFL preseason football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, in Indianapolis. The Ravens defeated the Colts, 20-19. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst (81) celebrates a touchdown during the Pro Football Hall of Fame NFL preseason game between the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018 in Canton, Ohio. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81in action against the Carolina Panthers on October 11, 2020. (Photo by AJ Reynolds/Atlanta Falcons)
The Baltimore Ravens' first round draft picks, tight end Hayden Hurst, third from left, and quarterback Lamar Jackson, third from right, pose with Ravens director of college scouting Joe Hortiz, from left, head coach John Harbaugh, general manager Ozzie Newsome and assistant general manager Eric DeCosta during an NFL football news conference at the team's headquarters in Owings Mills, Md., Friday, April 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 makes a catch against the Seattle Seahawks on September 13, 2020. (Photo by AJ Reynolds/Atlanta Falcons)
South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst (81) prepares for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina defeated Arkansas 48-22. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst (81) participates in a senior day ceremony before an NCAA college football game against Wofford on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina defeated Wofford 31-10. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst (81) celebrates with fans after an NCAA college football game against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina defeated Louisiana Tech 17-16. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Cleats worn by Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 for the 2020 My Cause, My Cleats campaign raising awareness for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention/Hayden Hurst Family Foundation.
South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst (81) picks up yardage after a reception during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, in Columbia, S.C. Texas A&M defeated South Carolina 24-13. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst looks at the video board during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina defeated Louisiana Tech 17-16. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst (81) looks for running room during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. Mississippi State won 27-14.(AP Photo/Jim Lytle)
Cleats worn by Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 for the 2020 My Cause, My Cleats campaign raising awareness for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention/Hayden Hurst Family Foundation.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 looks on against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 29, 2020.
Salute to Service uniform decals before the game against the Denver Broncos on November 8, 2020. (Photo by Matt Haley/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons Tight End Hayden Hurst #81 poses for images during the 2020 Atlanta Falcons Creative Day shoot on Saturday, August 1, 2020.
Cleats worn by Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 for the 2020 My Cause, My Cleats campaign raising awareness for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention/Hayden Hurst Family Foundation.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 looks on during pregame against the New Orleans Saints on November 21, 2020.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 in action during practice at IBM Performance Field.
Cleats worn by Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 for the 2020 My Cause, My Cleats campaign raising awareness for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention/Hayden Hurst Family Foundation.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 in action during practice at IBM Performance Field. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 runs the ball during the first half against the Detroit Lions on October 25, 2020. (Photo by Kyle Hess/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 runs the ball during the first half against the Denver Broncos on November 8, 2020. (Photo by Matt Haley/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 looks on during the National Anthem before the game against the Chicago Bears on September 27, 2020. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 and Atlanta Falcons fullback Keith Smith #40 lead the team to the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers on October 5, 2020. (Photo by Mark Brown/AtlantaFalcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys on September 20, 2020. (Photo by Adam Hagy)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott #4 embrace post game on September 20, 2020. (Photo by Steffenie Burns)
Atlanta Falcons Tight End Hayden Hurst #81 poses for images during the 2020 Atlanta Falcons Creative Day shoot on Saturday, August 1, 2020.
Cleats worn by Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst #81 for the 2020 My Cause, My Cleats campaign raising awareness for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention/Hayden Hurst Family Foundation.
Hurst isn't kidding.
The more he learns about first-year head coach Arthur Smith's offense, the more he likes. The new Falcons system prize versatility and downfield speed, traits that Hurst has in spades he hasn't been able to showcase as much as he could in 2021.
That's why Hurst 2021's a breakout year in the making.
"What I bring to the table is pretty unique as far as my vertical speed and how I'm able to move at my size. The way I play in games, my tempo is a match [to the system]. I think it's a great offense and I'm excited. I think that, in my fourth year, I'm going to get utilized vertically. That's what I was able to do in college. Finally, an offensive coordinator can see that and utilize it this year."
Smith sees great potential in the South Carolina product and will find innovative ways to use Hurst even with No. 4 overall pick Kyle Pitts in the mix. That will often happen with both guys on the field at the same time, with blocking and receiving skills that must be respected. That makes the Falcons unpredictable even if obvious run and pass formations.
"That's the beauty of this offense," Hurst said. "We're going to operate at multiple tight end sets. History has proven that with Coach Smith in Tennessee. I think we have a pretty good group of guys here in Atlanta and that he's going to be able to utilize all of us in specific ways to create mismatches and make defenses uncomfortable."
Hurst insists the Falcons decision to decline his fifth-year option didn't make things uncomfortable. The 2018 first-round pick now enters a contract year season supremely motivated to prove his worth. That could be another reason why Hurst is a "man on a mission," as he puts it.
Smith said Wednesday that Hurst is a valued member of the team, that he has "high expectations" for the 27-year old tight end.
Hurst feels the same way. He thinks big things are coming, and won't let the declined option play a role in his approach.
"I'm always going to bet on myself," Hurst said. "I'm not going to let that stuff ever affect me. I'm going to go out and do my job. I'm going to like where I'm at come the end of the year."
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