But now, he's revealing one of his secrets that led to a Super Bowl championship and a nine-year career.
Derek Wolfe (95) on field during a game vs. Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton (1) at Levi's Stadium. (Jed Jacobsohn /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
"Before games, I was taking microdoses. . . . I'm f---ing taking mushrooms and Aderall before I play," he said on Joe Rogan's podcast.
The mixture put Wolfe into an "out of control" focus, but he had one more trick up his own sleeve that helped him become a wrecking ball on the gridiron.
"Dude, the f---ing focus is out of control. I would just, like, before games, I would get myself pissed off - so I just would start thinking about my childhood, all the s--t I went through as a kid. And it would f---ing get me into this rage mode. It was like this crazy controlled rage," he continued.
Derek Wolfe, #95 of the Denver Broncos, celebrates after a sack in the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers during Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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"So Aderall, mushrooms and childhood rage altogether in a 280-pound savage," Rogan replied with a laugh.
Wolfe admitted that the concoctions produced some pretty crazy word vomit, as well.
"Just, f---ing, such a meathead. Saying wild, crazy s--t to quarterbacks. I told a guy I was going to f---ing eat his kids. It was crazy. . . .
"That's what you do, man. It's a head game. I'm trying to get in his head."
Derek Wolfe, #95 of the Denver Broncos, runs onto the field during starting defense player introductions before a game against the Tennessee Titans at Empower Field at Mile High on October 13, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Wolfe started 116 of his 122 games, racking up 34.0 sacks and 81 quarterback hits, totaling 350 tackles in his career.