Bodybuilding icon Jay Cutler isn’t one to make predictions lightly — but this time, the four-time Mr. Olympia champion is confident he’s spotted the sport’s next big thing.
Speaking on the UNWRACKED PODCAST, Cutler said he believes one man in particular could dominate both of bodybuilding’s premier events in 2026: the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia.
That man? Well, despite not being one to make predictions, Cutler is backing the rise of Andrew Jacked
“Andrew Jacked is Mr. Olympia all the way,” Cutler said. “I don’t ever make predictions because I cheer both these guys on. Andrew Jacked is Mr. Olympia all the way.
“He has all the tools so, is he going to be the next? If I was a betting man, I’d probably favor Andrew to come in and win the Arnold and Olympia in 2026, just because of his momentum right now.”
The 2025 Mr. Olympia reshaped the Men’s Open division, with Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Andrew Jacked battling it out for the title. Lunsford ultimately took home the Sandow trophy, while Jacked secured a career-best third place — finishing ahead of Samson Dauda, who dropped to fourth after being marked down for a downsized look.
It was a performance that convinced many fans — and veterans — that Jacked’s time is coming. Among those now backing him is Cutler, who praised both Jacked’s rapid development and his potential to become one of the sport’s all-time physiques.
“Andrew Jacked was a social media guy,” Cutler explained. “He was shooting with Larry Wheels. He was a strength guy. He came on the scene, and we haven’t seen anyone with that dominance as far as the shoulder width, the tie-ins — all the tools to be Mr. Olympia.”
Next year’s Arnold Classic will feature events in both Ohio and the UK, with a combined prize pool of $1 million on the line. Cutler believes that financial incentive, paired with Jacked’s work ethic, could push him to an unbeatable level.
“I feel like Andrew, if he improves a little bit, he wins that $750K. He could go to UK and win $250K more, win a million,” Cutler said. “A million dollars motivates the sh*t out of a lot of people.”
If Jacked takes both Arnold titles, he’ll have already banked seven figures before even setting foot on the Olympia stage — a massive statement heading into bodybuilding’s biggest show of the year.
Cutler admitted he rarely makes public predictions, but said Jacked’s current trajectory was too strong to ignore.
“I think Andrew still can get a little better. I think he’s motivated,” Cutler said. “Success motivates the hell out of people, but when someone has an unlimited structure, like an Andrew Jacked, it’s endless.”
That “unlimited structure” — tall, wide, and perfectly proportioned — has long been what separates Jacked from the pack. Standing 6’2” and weighing 266 pounds, the Nigerian powerhouse has become one of the most physically imposing figures in the Men’s Open division. After making waves in the Middle East with his win at the EBBF Ajmaan Bodybuilding and Physique Contest in 2021, he earned his Pro Card and exploded onto the international scene.
He went on to win the 2022 Texas Pro, earning a spot at his first Olympia, then followed up with two more Texas Pro victories and steady improvements in his Olympia placings every season.
By 2025, Jacked wasn’t just a dark horse — he was a clear title contender. That momentum now carries him into 2026 as the athlete many see as the biggest threat to the reigning Olympia champion.
Alongside his praise for Jacked, Cutler also offered fans insight into his own formula for longevity at age 52 — a mix of discipline, balance, and consistency that’s kept him in elite shape well into retirement.
READ MORE: Jay Cutler Shares His Workout Routine For Looking Incredible At 52
“Sleep. My four glasses of water in the morning. My activity levels. My tissue work. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t stress, which is probably hard to believe,” Cutler said. “My flights get cancelled — okay, it is what it is. Business things, I’ve been fortunate to navigate with great people around me.”
It’s the same mindset, he added, that drives modern pros like Jacked to stay focused despite the spotlight and pressure that comes with being the sport’s next big name.
With momentum from a top-three Olympia finish and gold from the Romania Muscle Fest Pro, Andrew Jacked heads into 2026 as the man to watch.
Former 212 Olympia Kamal Elgargni has even backed him to win five Olympia titles in his career, and like Cutler, believes he’s capable of taking both major crowns next season.
If Jacked delivers at the Arnold Classic in March and then again on bodybuilding’s biggest stage later in the year, he could not only cement himself as the new face of the Men’s Open — but also mark the start of a new era.
And in Jay Cutler’s eyes, that era already has a name: Andrew Jacked.
Featured image credit: YouTube/UNWRACKED PODCAST (Screenshot)
