Jacob Mertens enters his first season as the performance nutrition coordinator for the Houston Texans in 2020. Mertens served as the team's assistant performance dietitian in 2019 after joining the team as a sports performance intern in 2018.
Mertens works with Director of Team Wellness Ladd Harris to consult with Texans players and build a nutrition program to fit their needs. He is also in charge of ordering and distributing all nutrition products to the team.
Before joining the Texans, Mertens served as the dietitian for the Chicago Cubs' Triple-A affiliate Iowa Cubs during the 2017 season. He also completed his dietetic internship through the University of Houston.
Mertens played college football at Peru State College from 2008-11 where he received a bachelor's degree in exercise science. He also earned a master's degree in sports science from the University of Akron and took part in the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Nebraska.
Originally from Hastings, Neb., Mertens is a registered dietitian through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a certified strength and conditioning coach by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
