HOUSTON — During the football offseason, and during bye weeks throughout the regular season, Taj Khan trains two star NFL players at Khango, the gym he owns near Houston’s Rice Village.
Khan works closely with former Houston Texan and current Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Deandre Hopkins and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay, whose teams are facing off Sunday in the Super Bowl.
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Hopkins and Slay trained at Khango with Khan close by. Khan said he tries to think of exercises that can be translated into something useful for football, so the gains in the gym can turn into greatness on the field.
“We hit it hard probably the end of February to early March, and we’ll train those guys all the way until their OTAs, or optional mini camps they have to go to, and here and now, they’ll take trips, but they always find a way back into Houston,” Khan said.
Khan said he has been a personal trainer since 2017, and he and his family opened Khango in 2020. Fitness is his passion. He works with Houstonians and local athletes of all skill levels, but there is something special about working with some of the best football players in the country.
“You really see the greatness come out when there’s moments where they’re being pushed, and they’re almost tapped out, and then that’s where the all pro kicks in and the hall of famer kicks in, and you get to see true greatness,” Khan said.
With helping train two NFL stars playing for opposing teams in the Super Bowl this year, KHOU 11 News asked Khan who he is rooting for during the big game.
“This one is tough for me, because I train both, I have a great relationship with both,” Khan said. “We’re very excited for them, and we’re going to get a ring either way on the Khango side.”
A majority of clients at Khango are just everyday Houstonians, which Khan said is the main reason why his business has become so successful.
“That’s our bread and butter, and that’s what builds the word of mouth, community,” Khan said.