20 Biggest NFL Players in History and How Much They Weigh

Apart from heavyweight boxing, wrestling, mixed martial arts, and other combat sports where being weighty is perceived as advantageous, it is hard to think of any other sport that has any value for athletes with excessive body weight. This is so because all sporting activities require a decent level of flexibility, something that’s not common among people with high levels of body fat. In a nutshell, excessive body weight resists athletic motions by limiting movement abilities, balance, agility, and endurance.

But then, that does not mean being weighty is inherently disadvantageous to all sports. Linemen in American football, just as it is with heavyweight martial artists and wrestlers, are preferred to have an imposing figure. As such, they might be encouraged to get massive and build their strength, as long as crucial factors like agility and speed are not sacrificed in the process.

While placekickers are known to be the lightest players in gridiron football, offensive linemen are typically the strongest, largest, and weightiest. Aaron Gibson is the heaviest NFL player ever. Anyone who watched the offensive tackle play would agree he might have played better than he did if he wasn’t packing on so much unnecessary fat.

Meet The Top 20 Heaviest NFL Players of All Time

1. Aaron Gibson

  • Weight: 410 lb (186 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
  • Date of Birth: September 27, 1977
  • Age: 46 Years Old
  • Position: Offensive Tackle
  • Teams: Detroit Lions (1999 – 2001), Dallas Cowboys (2001 – 2002) Chicago Bears (2003 – 2004) Buffalo Bills (2006), Austin Wranglers (2007), Utah Blaze (2008), Dallas Desperados (2008), Cleveland Gladiators (2008), and Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings (2010)

More than being one of the heaviest NFL players of all time, Aaron Gibson is also one of the heaviest players the AFL ever saw. He played for teams like the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and the Detroit Lions in the NFL. His time in the AFL was majorly spent with the Austin Wranglers and Cleveland Gladiators.

The offensive tackle was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he schooled at Decatur Central High School. He began playing football there; Aaron was pretty good at it that it earned him a football scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, a public university located in Madison, Wisconsin.

Although he didn’t get to play any game as a freshman, he soon became a starting right tackle for the Wisconsin Badgers and would later be recognized as a first-team All-American in his senior year.

He was also twice named an All-Big Ten and finished his college career as the first player in the history of the college team to attain the status of a finalist for the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award. At the 1999 NFL Draft, he was selected by the Detroit Lions as the 27th overall pick. But as turned out, he struggled throughout his professional career which packed up in 2010.

2. Terrell Brown

  • Weight: 403 lb (183 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 10 in (2.1 m)
  • Date of Birth: Undetermined
  • Age: Undetermined
  • Position: Offensive Tackle
  • Teams: St Louis Rams

When Terrell Brown joined the NFL, his massive height and weight had people checking the record books to fish out the biggest players to have graced the league before him. He went undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft and was signed by the St Louis Rams who believed he weighed 388 pounds. After the pact was made, they weighed the player and the figures returned a massive 403 pounds. Brown had his college career with the Ole Miss Rebels which represents the University of Mississippi.

It is said that he didn’t get to play many games with the college team. This is also so with his professional career. Even though the Rams said much about converting him from a defensive lineman to an offensive lineman, nothing great came out of it; in fact, it is hard to tell when his professional career came to an end. Brown had a very forgettable NFL career, yet he will always be remembered as one of the heaviest players in the history of the league.

3. Nate Newton

  • Weight: 401 lb (182 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
  • Date of Birth: December 20, 1961
  • Age: 54 Years Old
  • Position: Offensive Guard
  • Teams: Washington Redskins (1983), Tampa Bay Bandits (1984 – 1985), Dallas Cowboys (1986 – 1998), and Carolina Panthers (1999)

The former American football guard was born in Orlando, Florida. Growing up, he was very athletic and did not only play football but also basketball. He was also a wrestler and participated in track and field events like shot put.

As a student of Jone High School located in the urban heart of Orlando, Nate began playing football as a fullback. By his junior year, he had outgrown the position and began playing as a defensive line. He was a fine player who gained the attention of Division I colleges. However, Nate Newton decided its best for him to stay close to home; so he joined Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and played for the Rattlers.

His college career was successful as he was named to First-team All-MEAC in 1980 and to USFL All-Time Team. Despite this, he went undrafted at the 1983 NFL Draft. The Tampa Bay Bandits selected him at the USFL Territorial Draft of the same year. Nonetheless, the offensive guard soon signed as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins and it marked the beginning of his NFL career. Despite several challenges, including a serious car accident, Nate Newton got to make his mark in the league. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion, a six-time Pro Bowler, and was twice named an All-Pro.

4. Bryant McKinnie

  • Weight: 386 lb (175 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
  • Date of Birth: September 23, 1979
  • Age: 44 Years Old
  • Position: Offensive Tackle
  • Teams: Minnesota Vikings (2002 – 2010), Baltimore Ravens (2011 – 2013), and Miami Dolphins (2013)

Bryant McKinnie isn’t only remembered as one of the heaviest NFL players ever, the former American football offensive tackle is a Super Bowl champion, a Pro Bowler, and a two-time first-team All-American. His professional career began with the Minnesota Vikings in 2002 after he was drafted by the side as the seventh overall selection. He played for the Vikings until August 2011 when he was released. That same month, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens and stayed with the team until October 2013 when he was traded to the Miami Dolphins. He put on a poor performance with the side that naturally brought his professional career to an end.

Born in Woodbury, New Jersey, the offensive tackle began playing football at Woodbury High School located in his hometown. Leaving high school, he enrolled at Lackawanna College, a private college in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he played college football for two years before he transferred on scholarship to the University of Miami. He completed his college career with the Miami Hurricanes that represents the university. Among other attainments, he won the Jim Parker Award, the Outland Trophy, the BCS National Championship, and was twice named to First-team All-Big East.

5. William Perry

  • Weight: 382 lb (173 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
  • Date of Birth: December 16, 1962
  • Age: 61 Years Old
  • Position: Defensive Tackle
  • Teams: Chicago Bears (1985 – 1993), Philadelphia Eagles (1993 – 1994), and London Monarchs (1996)

Born in Aiken, South Carolina, the former defensive lineman has always been big. When he was 11 years old, he weighed as much as 200 pounds and people made fun of him about it. He took to athletic activities at Aiken High School, participating in track and field events while also playing football as a nose guard. Despite his massive weight, William proved to be very athletic and it earned him a scholarship to Clemson University where he played for the Clemson Tigers that competes in NCAA Division I. There, his massive physique earned him his “Refrigerator” nickname while his skills saw him become a national champion.

At the 1985 NFL Draft, William Perry was picked in the first round by the Chicago Bears. He went on to spend most of his 10 years in the NFL with the side. He played with the team until 1993 when he joined the Philadelphia Eagles. He retired after the 1994 season but returned in 1996 to play for the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football which later became NFL Europa. Perry’s professional career was pretty successful as he is a Super Bowl champion.

6. Trent Brown

  • Weight: 380 lb (172 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
  • Date of Birth: April 13, 1993
  • Age: 30 Years Old
  • Position: Offensive Tackle
  • Teams: San Francisco 49ers (2015 – 2017), New England Patriots (2018), Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders (2019 – 2020) [New England Patriots (2021 – present)]

Trent Brown isn’t only one of the heaviest NFL players in history; he is also the heaviest player in the league at the moment. The offensive tackle has been playing for coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots since March 2021 when the Raiders traded him to the side. Brown’s NFL career began with the San Francisco 49ers, the team selected him in the 7th round of the 2015 NFL Draft and he played for them until December 2017. In April 2018, he joined the Patriots before moving on the following year to play for the Raiders on a four-year contract valued at $66 million.

Although he was born in Bastrop, Texas, Trent Brown had his high school education in Albany, Georgia. First, he attended Deerfield-Windsor School and then Westover Comprehensive High School where he began playing football. He graduated in 2011 and moved on to Georgia Military College where he played for the GMC Bulldogs for two years. Brown distinguished himself with the team and several NCAA Division I schools came calling for him to join their team. Eventually, he settled for the University of Florida and thus played for the Florida Gators in 2013 and 2014 before the 49ers drafted him for his professional career. Brown is a Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion.

7. Michael Jasper

  • Weight: 375 lb (170 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
  • Date of Birth: October 8, 1986
  • Age: 37 Years Old
  • Position: Defensive Tackle
  • Teams: Buffalo Bills (2011), Tennessee Titans (2012), Omaha Nighthawks (2012), New York Giants (2013), and Carolina Panthers (2013 − 2014)

During his college career, Michael Jasper weighed as much as 450 pounds. It was after he joined the NFL that he was tasked to reduce his weight to 375 pounds. Michael was born in Mount Juliet, Tennessee where he attended Mt. Juliet High School and began playing football. After high school, he furthered his education at Bethel University, a Christian university located in McKenzie, also in Tennessee. He also played football at the university and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills at the 2011 NFL Draft. But as fate would have it, his time with the side was very brief as he was waived in August 2012.

That same month, he was signed by the Tennessee Titans and again waived. Thereafter, he took his talent to the United Football League and played for the Omaha Nighthawks briefly in 2012. The following year, he returned to the NFL to play for the New York Giants only to be cut in August. His next team was the Carolina Panthers and his time there was also brief. Following the end of his professional career, he became a high school football coach; and later, an offensive line coach of his university team. Jasper served in this capacity from 2016 to 2018. In January 2019, he was hired to be the head coach, a position he still holds.

8. Robert Griffin

  • Weight: 366 lb (166 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
  • Date of Birth: November 22, 1989
  • Age: 34 Years Old
  • Spouse: Grete Å adeiko (m. 2018), Rebecca Liddicoat (m. 2013–2016)
  • Position: Offensive Guard
  • Teams: New York Jets (2012), Indianapolis Colts (2012 − 2013), Mesquite / Dallas Marshals (2016 – 2017), and Texas Revolution (2017)
Heaviest NFL Players
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Robert Torrez Griffin had a very forgettable professional career in the NFL and the Champions Indoor Football (CIF), the professional indoor American football league that came out of the merger between Lone Star Football League (LSFL) and Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). Born in Euless, Texas, Griffin had his high school education at a public school, Trinity High School, located in his hometown. Like most of the NFL players, he began playing football in high school and kept up with it in college. Leaving high school, he first attended Navarro College, a public community college in Texas.

In 2010, Robert Griffin transferred to Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he also played football for the Baylor Bears. At the 2012 NFL Draft, he was selected by the New York Jets in the sixth round as the 203rd overall player picked. Thereafter, he signed a four-year contract with the side and was set to start playing in the league. But then, the Jets waived him about three months later. In December 2012, he joined the Indianapolis Colts but was again waived in August 2013. Much wasn’t heard from him until he joined the Dallas Marshals of the CIF in 2016 only to be released the following year. In March 2017, he signed with the Texas Revolution of the CIF but nothing significant came out of it as well.

9. Ted Washington

  • Weight: 365 lb (166 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
  • Date of Birth: April 13, 1968
  • Age: 55 Years Old
  • Position: Defensive Tackle
  • Teams: San Francisco 49ers (1991 – 1993), Denver Broncos (1994), Buffalo Bills (1995–2000), Chicago Bears (2001 – 2002), New England Patriots (2003), Oakland Raiders (2004 – 2005), Cleveland Browns (2006 – 2007)

Ted Washington is definitely one of the most accomplished of the heaviest NFL players. The former American football defensive tackle is a Super Bowl champion; he won Super Bowl XXXVIII with the New England Patriots. He is also a four-time Pro Bowler who was named to first-team All-Pro in 2001 and second-team All-Pro in 1997.

Theodore Washington Jr. began his professional career with the San Francisco 49ers; the team selected him in the first round of the 1991 NFL Draft. In April 1994, he was traded to the Denver Broncos and in February 1995, the Buffalo Bills signed him as an unrestricted free agent. Ted remained with the Bills until February 2001 when the team cut him. Thereafter, he joined the Chicago Bears but was traded to the New England Patriots in August 2003. His next team was the Oakland Raiders, and then, the Cleveland Browns.

Washington’s weight fluctuated all through his career, it is said that he weighed as much as 400 pounds at some point and was 375 pounds in his final NFL season. Washington retired with a total of 603 tackles, two interceptions, and 34.5 sacks. The Tampa, Florida native had his college career with the Louisville Cardinals which represents the University of Louisville. He studied physical education at the public university located in Louisville, Kentucky. Before this, he attended Tampa Bay Technical High School where he excelled in football, baseball, wrestling, and track and field events.

10. T. J. Barnes

  • Weight: 364 lb (165 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
  • Date of Birth: June 14, 1990 
  • Age: 33 Years Old
  • Position: Defensive Tackle
  • Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars (2013; 2016), New York Jets (2013 – 2015), Buffalo Bills (2015), Kansas City Chiefs (2016), Atlanta Legends (2019), Carolina Panthers (2019), and New York Guardians (2020)

T. J. Barnes’ professional career seems to be over as he has been a free agent since April 2020 when the XFL suspended its operations. He had been selected by the New York Guardians in the 4th round of the 2020 XFL Draft. The defensive tackle began his professional career with the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL; they signed him in April 2013 as an undrafted free agent only to release him in August of that same year. October came and he joined the New York Jets. He played for the team until 2015 when he moved on to the Buffalo Bills and then had his second stint with the Jaguars the following year.

After that, Barnes spent some time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football, and the Carolina Panthers before the Guardians came calling. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Terence Jariviz Barnes attended Enterprise High School where his exploits in the sport earned him nationwide attention. Among other things, Rivals.com ranked him as one of the best offensive tackle prospects. Leaving high school, he became a student of the Georgia Institute of Technology and played college football with the Yellow Jackets.

11. Mekhi Becton

  • Weight: 363 lb (165 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
  • Date of Birth: April 18, 1999
  • Age: 24 Years Old
  • Position: Offensive Tackle
  • Teams: [New York Jets (2020 – present)]

It was at the 2020 NFL Draft that the New York Jets selected Mekhi Becton, the team picked him in the first round as the 11th overall player selected. It marked the beginning of his professional career and he immediately became known as one of the heaviest NFL players of all time. Mekhi is at the earlier stage of his NFL career and it is yet to be seen if he would equal the attainments of his high school and college career. The Highland Springs, Virginia native attended Highland Springs High School where he played football and was ranked among the best offensive tackle prospects.

Because of the outstanding abilities he showcased in high school, as many as 31 schools approached him to have his college career with them. At the end of the day, he decided to sign with the Louisville Cardinals which represents the University of Louisville. He immediately distinguished himself and was rated the best freshman in some quarters. In the 2019 season, he was named to first-team All-ACC and won the Jacobs Blocking Award. Thereafter, he decided to forgo his senior season of college football and declared for the 2020 NFL Draft. He is part of the New York Jets’ active roster.

12. Marcus Cannon

  • Weight: 358 lb (162 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
  • Date of Birth: May 6, 1988
  • Age: 35 Years Old
  • Position: Offensive Tackle
  • Teams: New England Patriots (2011 – 2020) [Houston Texans (2021 – present)]

Marcus Darell Cannon was born in Odessa, Texas where he began playing football at Odessa High School. He would later proceed to Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth where he also played football and proved he would thrive in the big league. Among other feats, he made the All-Mountain West Honorable mention list in 2008, was named twice in first-team All-Moutain West, and also made the cut for All-American Third-team in 2010. Looking towards making his NFL debut, Cannon encountered a setback as he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma pre-draft. He went for treatment and it contributed to his late selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.

As you would easily find, Cannon was drafted in the fifth round by the New England Patriots as the 138th overall player picked. With that, he made history as the heaviest player ever drafted by the Patriots. Records have it that he is also the second-heaviest player in the history of the team; the first was Ted Washington. He played for the team until 2020 and remarkably won three Super Bowl championships with them; XLIX, LI, and LIII. He was traded to the Houston Texans in March 2021. Marcus Cannon graduated from TCU with a communications degree. He is married with at least three children and his cancer has been in remission for years.

13. Leonard Davis

  • Weight: 355 lb (161 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
  • Date of Birth: September 5, 1978 
  • Age: 45 Years Old
  • Position: Offensive Guard/Tackle
  • Teams: Arizona Cardinals (2001 – 2006), Dallas Cowboys (2007 – 2010), Detroit Lions (2011), San Francisco 49ers (2012)

Leonard Bernett Davis was born in Wortham, Texas where he attended Wortham High School. He excelled in both football and basketball, leading the school’s team to the state championship in the latter sport. In the former, he played both defense and offense and earned an All-American honor in the process. He decided to focus on football in college after he landed an athletic scholarship from the University of Texas at Austin. His college career was successful as he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American. In addition to that, he was named to second-team All-Big 12 in 1999, first-team All-Big 12 in 2000, and was twice a finalist for the Outland Trophy.

Davis went into the 2001 NFL Draft as a top prospect and was selected second overall in the first round by the Arizona Cardinals. He made his NFL debut with the franchise and played for the team until February 2007 when he became an unrestricted free agent. The following month, the Dallas Cowboys signed him on a seven-year contract worth $49.6 million. With the team, he became a three-time Pro Bowler and was released in July 2011. In November of the same year, he made a one-year pact with the Detroit Lions. The last team he played for was the San Francisco 49ers.

14. Zach Banner

  • Weight: 353 lb (160 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
  • Date of Birth: December 25, 1993
  • Age: 30 Years Old
  • Position: Offensive Tackle
  • Teams: Indianapolis Colts (2017), Cleveland Browns (2017), Carolina Panthers (2018), [Pittsburgh Steelers (2018 – present)]

Zachery Samuel Banner’s place as one of the heaviest NFL players earned him his nickname, “The Hulk”. The offensive tackle was born in Puyallup, Washington, and football seems to run in his veins. His biological father, Lincoln Kennedy, is a College Football Hall of Famer and an NFL Pro Bowler who played as an offensive tackle in the league for eleven years.

The footballer of Chamorro and African-American descent has always been massive. It is said that he was already weighing over 300 pounds and 6 ft 7 in tall in his first year of high school. Banner played football and basketball at Lakes High School; he was so good that he received over 20 scholarship offers when it was time for college. He ultimately decided to further his education at the University of Southern California where he played for the USC Trojans.

As it was with his high school days, he also put up a great performance with the college team and it earned him several recognitions, including the first-team All-Pac-12 honor; this was in 2016. At the 2017 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Zach Banner in the fourth round, he was the 137th player picked. He was set to make his NFL debut but the Clots waived him on the 3rd of September. The following day, the Cleveland Browns came for him and he played his first professional game with the side.

March 2018 came and the Browns released Banner. He joined the Carolina Panthers that same month but was yet again waived in May 2018. On the 12th of August 2018, he made a pact with the Pittsburgh Steelers and has been with the team since then. His contract with the side was first renewed for a year in March 2020 and in March 2021, he signed another two-year contract with the Steelers.

15. Daniel McCullers

  • Weight: 352 lb (160 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
  • Date of Birth: August 11, 1992
  • Age: 31 Years Old
  • Position: Nose Tackle
  • Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (2014 – 2020) and Chicago Bears (2020)

Daniel Ray McCullers-Sanders is also one of the heaviest NFL players. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, he started playing football at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School and distinguished himself as a talented player. Because of his poor grades, he couldn’t enroll at a Division I school, so he settled for Georgia Military College where he played his first two years of college football. Thereafter, he moved to the University of Tennessee where he played for the Volunteers and became notorious for his massive physique which earned him several nicknames like “Big Dan” and “Mount McCullers”.

As the eve of his professional career approached, Daniel was ranked among the top defensive tackle prospects. He was eventually selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 215th player picked in the 6th round of the 2014 NFL Draft. In May, he signed a four-year contract with the side and then made his NFL debut in a win over the Houston Texans in October. In March 2018, his contract with the Steelers was renewed for one year and in March 2019, he signed another two-year contract with the team. McCullers parted ways with the Steelers in September 2020 when the Chicago Bears signed him; he is currently a free agent.

16. Damon Harrison

  • Weight: 350 lb (159 kg
  • Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
  • Date of Birth: November 29, 1988
  • Age: 35 Years Old
  • Position: Defensive Tackle
  • Teams: New York Jets (2012 – 2015), New York Giants (2016 – 2018), Detroit Lions (2018 – 2019), Seattle Seahawks (2020), and Green Bay Packers (2020)

Damon Harrison has been a free agent since 2020 and making the best of his family life with his wife Alexis Harrison and their seven children. The defensive tackle has always been drawn to sports; so it is not a surprise he is still holding on to the NFL even though he hasn’t been getting many opportunities. Born in New Iberia, Louisiana, Damon’s first love was basketball. He played as a shooting guard for the Lake Charles Boston High School varsity team until he sustained an injury that sidelined him for months. During that time, he packed up about 50 pounds. It was after this that he decided to play football.

Harrison played both offensive and defensive lines. He soon became an important player for his team; he was named the captain and was voted as the team’s Offensive Lineman of the Year, Offensive MVP, and Defensive MVP. Despite all of this, he didn’t get any scholarship offer.

Damon decided to further his education at Northwest Mississippi Community College but dropped out after the first semester. As fate would have it, he was later offered a spot at William Penn University, a private university located in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Damon made the best of this and was twice named to second-team All-MSFA; this was in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, he was named to first-team All-MSFA and NAIA All-America.

The defensive tackle went undrafted at the 2012 NFL draft but was signed by the New York Jets in April. He played for the side until the end of the 2015 season. In March 2016, he signed a five-year contract worth $9.25 million per year with the New York Giants. That year, Damon was named to first-team All-Pro and was also ranked 96th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017. He was traded to the Detroit Lions in October 2018 and the team released him in February 2020. The Seattle Seahawks came for Damon in October that year only to waive him in December. That same month, he joined the Green Bay Packers but is currently a free agent.

17. Shaun Rogers

  • Weight: 350 lb (159 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
  • Date of Birth: March 12, 1979 
  • Age: 45 Years Old
  • Position: Defensive Tackle
  • Teams: Detroit Lions (2001 – 2007), Cleveland Browns (2008 – 2010), New Orleans Saints (2011), New York Giants (2012 – 2013)

A three-time Pro Bowler who was named second-team All-Pro in 2004, Shaun Rogers is also recognized as one of the heaviest NFL players in history. The Houston, Texas native began his professional career with the Detroit Lions who selected him in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played for the side until the end of the 2007 season. The defensive tackle was traded to the Cleveland Browns in February 2008 and remained with the franchise until February 2011 when he was released. Thereafter, he joined the New Orleans Saints in a one-year contract worth $4 million. When the contract elapsed, he joined the New York Giants, the last team he played for.

Rogers retired with a total of 513 tackles, 37.5 quarterback sacks, four forced fumbles, one interception, and one touchdown. He also had a successful college career as he was named to first-team All-Big 12 in 1999 and was an AP Honorable Mention All-Big 12 in 2000. It was with the Texas Longhorns of the University of Texas that he played college football. Before this, Shaun played football and basketball at La Porte High School in La Porte, Texas.

18. Albert Haynesworth

  • Weight: 350 lb (159 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
  • Date of Birth: June 17, 1981
  • Age: 42 years old
  • Position: Defensive Tackle
  • Teams: Tennessee Titans (2002 – 2008), Washington Redskins (2009 – 2010), New England Patriots (2011), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2011)

It would be outrageous for anyone to suggest that Albert George Haynesworth III didn’t have a successful career in the NFL. The former American football defensive tackle is a two-time Pro Bowler who was twice named first-team All-Pro; this was in 2007 and 2008. In the latter year, he was also recognized by Sporting News as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Albert began his professional career with the Tennessee Titans, the team that selected him in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played for the Titans until he became an unrestricted free agent in 2009. With that, he landed a seven-year contract with the Washington Redskins valued at a massive $100 million.

Unfortunately, Albert’s performance dropped so much that he was traded to the New England Patriots in July 2011. He soon joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his last team, and was released in February 2012. Albert Haynesworth played college football with the Tennessee Volunteers of the University of Tennessee. He also played the sport in high school, at Hartsville High School located in his hometown, Hartsville, South Carolina.

19. D. J. Reader

  • Weight: 347 lb (157 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
  • Date of Birth: July 1, 1994
  • Age: 29 Years Old
  • Position: Defensive Tackle
  • Teams: Houston Texans (2016 – 2019) and [Cincinnati Bengals (2020 – present)]

David Vernon “D. J.” Reader Jr. is one of the heaviest NFL players who are still active. The defensive tackle born in Greensboro, North Carolina attended Grimsley High School in his hometown where he played both football and baseball. After high school, he moved to South Carolina to further his education at Clemson University. He also played football and baseball at the public land-grant research university.

Reader was selected by the Houston Texans in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft and it marked the beginning of his professional career. He played for the Texans until April 2020 when he made a four-year pact with the Cincinnati Bengals. The contract was said to be worth $53 million and he remains with the team.

20. Vita Vea

  • Weight: 347 lb (157 kg)
  • Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
  • Date of Birth: February 5, 1995
  • Age: 29 Years Old
  • Position: Nose Tackle
  • Teams: [Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2018 – present)]

Vita Vea, whose full name is Tevita Tuliʻakiʻono Tuipulotu Mosese Vaʻhae Fehoko Faletau Vea, only began his professional career in 2018 but he is already a Super Bowl champion. The American football nose tackle plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; the team picked him in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft and he was the 12th overall player selected. Although he missed the first three games of his rookie season because of a calf injury, he finished with a remarkable 28 tackles and three sacks.

The 2019 season saw his performance improve; he was featured in all 16 games and pulled off 35 tackles with 12 quarterback hits and three passes defended. He won Super Bowl LV the following season and continues to play for the Buccaneers. Vita Vea had his college career with the Washington Huskies of the University of Washington. He won the Morris Trophy in 2017, the same year he was named to first-team All-Pac-12 and was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Born in Stanford, California, Vea attended Milpitas High School located in Milpitas, California.

List of Heaviest NFL Players in History

  1. Aaron Gibson – Weight: 410 lb (186 kg)
  2. Terrell Brown – Weight: 403 lb (183 kg)
  3. Nate Newton – Weight: 401 lb (182 kg)
  4. Bryant McKinnie – Weight: 386 lb (175 kg)
  5. William Perry – Weight: 382 lb (173 kg)
  6. Trent Brown – Weight: 380 lb (172 kg)
  7. Michael Jasper – Weight: 375 lb (170 kg)
  8. Robert Griffin – Weight: 366 lb (166 kg)
  9. T. J. Barnes – Weight: 364 lb (165 kg)
  10. Ted Washington – Weight: 365 lb (166 kg)
  11. Mekhi Becton – Weight: 363 lb (165 kg)
  12. Marcus Cannon – Weight: 358 lb (162 kg)
  13. Leonard Davis – Weight: 355 lb (161 kg)
  14. Zach Banner – Weight: 353 lb (160 kg)
  15. Daniel McCullers – Weight: 352 lb (160 kg)
  16. Damon Harrison – Weight: 350 lb (159 kg)
  17. Shaun Rogers – Weight: 350 lb (159 kg)
  18. Albert Haynesworth – Weight: 350 lb (159 kg)
  19. D. J. Reader – Weight: 347 lb (157 kg)
  20. Vita Vea – Weight: 347 lb (157 kg)

FAQs

  1. Who holds the record for being the heaviest player in the NFL? Aaron Gibson, during his high school years, tipped the scales at 440 pounds and has the distinction of holding the National Football League’s record as the heaviest player at 410 pounds. Following his recognition as a 1998 Consensus All-American at Wisconsin, he was chosen by the Detroit Lions as their first-round offensive tackle in the 1999 NFL draft.
  2. What roles are typically assigned to the biggest or heaviest players in the NFL? In the NFL, positions requiring substantial strength are generally filled by the largest players. Tackles or offensive linemen are common positions for such players. Jamie Nails and Aaron Gibson are examples of some of the league’s heaviest linemen.
  3. Is size a characteristic feature of NFL defenders? While NFL defenders need to be both large and agile, they are typically not among the heaviest players on the field. Historically, offense tackles and linemen were kept below 320-330 lbs. Currently, prominent defensive players like Chris Jones don’t rank as the most massive players.
  4. Who has been the tallest player in the history of the NFL? Richard Sligh, who stood at an incredible 7 feet and 2 inches, was one of the NFL’s tallest players. He played as a defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders, was drafted in the 10th round in 1967, and even won an AFL championship. Others notable for their height include Alejandro Villanueva, Dan Skipper, and Ed Jones.
  5. Who is the largest active player in the NFL? As of now, the heaviest active player in the NFL is Daniel Faalele, who was drafted by the Ravens in 2022. Weighing 385 lbs and standing 6 ft 8 in tall, he’s only 22 and still developing his skills as an offensive tackle. Other exceptionally heavy players in the league include Zach Banner, Daniel McCullers, and D. J. Reader.
Chinedu Ndubueze
Chinedu Ndubueze
Chinedu holds a B.SC in Mass Communications with several years of writing and editing experience. He is an advocate of closed-back headphones, horror movies, and dark humor; He believes that Peter Griffin and Stan Smith should be real people. Outside of having to write, edit, and work on other forms of content, Chinedu may keep up with the EPL or listen to everything Eminem and Jon Bellion.

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