Jay Cutler has had years to curate and tailor the perfect training routines. In a recent endeavor, shared on Jan. 10, 2026, he broke down his number one shoulder and traps workout.
In his prime, Jay Cutler had to face off against arguably one of the most stacked Men’s Open landscapes. In 2006, he finally dethroned Ronnie Coleman. Although he lost the title in 2008 to Dexter Jackson, Cutler ultimately won it back a year later. At the event, he solidified his legacy, thanks to his epic quad stomp pose. Before calling it a career, “The Comeback Kid” achieved four Mr. Olympia titles.
In 2013, he competed in his final Mr. Olympia contest en route to sixth place. Retirement life can be hard to accept for high-level IFBB Pros, but Cutler has kept himself busy. In addition to watching over the Men’s Open, he hosts the Cutler Cast Podcast, runs a supplement company, and participates in regular guest appearances across the globe.
Despite these demands, Cutler hasn’t stopped training seven days a week. He transformed his physique for his 50th birthday and has held those gains for two years. He admits training has changed immensely from his prime; instead of moving weight to build muscle, Cutler said he mostly works out for longevity and functional fitness.
Jay Cutler’s #1 Shoulder and Traps Workout
Find the exercises from the video below:
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- Military Press
- Seated Lateral Raise
- Front Raise
- Reverse Pec Deck
- Dumbbell Shrugs
For front delts, Cutler utilized military presses and front raises. He used seated lateral raises to tax the side delts. The pec deck allowed him to round out the shoulders with a rear delt pump. Lastly, he included dumbbell shrugs for upper trap activation.
Aging gracefully in bodybuilding is no easy feat. Cutler’s long-time rival, Coleman, an eight-time Mr. Olympia winner, suffers from a litany of health issues today. Following more than 13 back surgeries, he can no longer walk without assistance. Coleman’s health was touch-and-go for much of 2025, as he revealed a life-changing battle with sepsis nearly killed him.
Cutler adjusted more than his training in his 50s. He recently explained why he switched from his 100-gram protein breakfast to a more streamlined option. As an alternative, he consumes a protein shake with two eggs each morning after fasted cardio.
Cutler wants to kick off the New Year with bigger, more defined shoulders. He believes these five exercises cover the shoulders and traps effectively to set the stage for gains.
RELATED: Jay Cutler, Milos Sarcev Talk Fantasy Battles: Jay vs Dorian Yates, Phil Heath vs. Ronnie Coleman
Watch the full video from the JayCutlerTV YouTube channel below:
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