If there’s anywhere you’d expect people to be large, it’s the NFL.
Everyone knows NFL players are physically imposing, but sometimes it’s hard to imagine just how much so.
In fact, at 245.86 pounds, the average NFL player is 23% heavier than the average American man.
Yet, 245 pounds doesn’t even come close to the heaviest football players in history. The NFL is home to some truly massive players and that’s been true throughout the league’s storied history.
In what other sport is it completely normal for players to weigh over 300 pounds?
Here is the definitive list of the heaviest NFL players, now and throughout history – sourced from data at NFL.com and Pro Football Reference. Players are sorted in ascending order by their highest recorded weight.
Heaviest Players in NFL History
Bryant McKinnie, Offensive Tackle – 360 Pounds
Born in New Jersey in 1979, this offensive tackle would go on to make a name for himself with the Baltimore Ravens.
McKinnie was drafted by the Vikings in 2002, starting every game from 2003 to 2007. With a streak of 80 consecutive games started – and a 297-game start streak – McKinnie also stands out for more than just his weight.
Still, at 6’8” and 360 pounds, McKinnie is one of the largest NFL players to ever hit the field.
In 2011, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens. That decision took him through to the Super Bowl victory against the San Francisco 49ers in 2013.
He was traded the following year to the Miami Dolphins. Unfortunately, his career didn’t go out with a bang. McKinnie ended his final season ranked as one of the league’s worst offensive tackles.
Ted Washington, Nose Tackle – 375 Pounds
![Ted Washington quote that says: "I liked to make tackles for losses, but when it's needed that stop [on] fourth-and-inches or whatever…that was really exciting for me. Because I knew they were going to try and run it and they…[had] no place to go."](https://jokermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Ted-Washington-Quote-1-819x1024.webp)
Standing at 6’5”, 375 pounds, nose tackle Ted Washington was an imposing beast on the defensive line.
With four Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl ring, he also stands out as one of the greatest defensive tackles of all time.
Of course, Washington also came from a football family – his father was Ted Washington Sr., a Houston Oilers linebacker from 1972 to 1982.
Junior also started 204 of his 236 career games – making him one of highest highest-endurance nose tackles out there.
Washington was born in 1968 in Tampa, Florida. After distinguishing himself in high school and college football, he was selected 25th overall by the 49ers in 1991.
He made a name for himself during his years in Buffalo. Washington’s size also meant he could single-handedly block a running lane and often forced opposing linemen to double-team him.
Altogether, he played 17 seasons and earned a Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots in 2004.
That combined total of 236 total games played also makes Washington the longest-lasting nose tackle in NFL history, with Ken Clark coming in second at 203 games.
William Perry, Defensive Tackle – 390 Pounds
William “The Refrigerator” Perry was one of the first of the oversized tackles that now dominate the NFL.
Born in 1962 and drafted in 1985, Perry beat the trend by close to 20 years.
“Fridge” weighed in at 335 pounds for most of his career but topped out at a massive 390.
Perry’s size led to his nickname, as well as a remarkable 10-year career. Still, he was almost as popular as a public figure.
The list includes his own action figures, an A-Team appearance, an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, and more.
Perry is also distinguished in that he played almost his entire career with the Chicago Bears. Hand-picked by coach Mike Ditka, he moved through roles until eventually getting to show his capabilities as defensive lineman.
That eventually led to Perry running the ball for a touchdown during the Bears’ Super Bowl XX win.
Perry’s Super Bowl ring is a size 25, compared to the average size 12-15, making it the largest Super Bowl ring ever made.
Nate Newton, Offensive Tackle/Guard – 401 Pounds
This Orlando-Florida-native NFL player is not just one of the heaviest NFL players ever, he’s inducted into the Florida A&M University Sports Hall of Fame and the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
At his heaviest, Nate weighed 401 pounds.
However, as a 3-time Super Bowl champion plus 10 other accolades, and 180 games started, Newton stands out for more than just his size.
Newton was selected by the USFL’s Tampa Bay Bandits in 1983. Instead, he opted to play as an undrafted free agent in the NFL for Washington.
He signed with the Bay Bandits the following year, playing as offensive tackle until the USFL folded in 1986 and he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a UDFA.
It was here that Newton earned his nickname of “The Kitchen” because he was larger than William “The Refrigerator” Perry.
Newton made a name for himself protecting lanes for running back Emmitt Smith. He was considered one of the best guards in the NFL.
In 1999, Newton signed with the Carolina Panthers where he played until an injury ended his career.
Today, Newton is retired from football. He’s lost 175 pounds and works as a healthy living and coach for the next generation of athletes.
Terrell Brown, Right Tackle– 403 Pounds
While his career was short-lived, Rams rookie Terrell Brown briefly made headlines for his astounding weight, at just over 400 pounds.
Standing at 6’10”, Brown is a head above Richard Sligh, the 7-foot defensive tackle who played for the Raiders in 1967.
But, at 5.77 seconds for the 40-yard dash, Brown was remarkably agile.
Unfortunately, the lineman was waived due to undisclosed injuries almost immediately and we’ve heard nothing from him since.
Aaron Gibson, Offensive Tackle – 410 Pounds
![A quote from the heaviest NFL player of all time, 410-pound Aaron Gibson: “I didn't ever want to be hungry because 'tomorrow,' as a kid, I could not eat. That wasn’t going to happen [in college] at Wisconsin, but that was in my head. I ate like that until exhaustion."](https://jokermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Aaron-Gibson-NFL-Quote-1-819x1024.webp)
Often cited as the heaviest player in NFL history, Aaron Gibson was a true powerhouse.
This offensive tackle was born in 1977 in Indianapolis, Indiana and went on to capture the hearts of football fans at the 1999 NFL Combine.
The 6’6” lineman was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1999 after running the 40-yard dash in an astonishing 5.3 seconds.
Despite that surprising agility, Gibson’s career was marked by injuries. After successive shoulder problems, Gibson was waived from the Lions in 2001.
He was immediately claimed off waivers by the Dallas Cowboys, playing in their season finale.
That year, Gibson became the first NFL player officially listed at 400 pounds.
A successive knee injury saw his release from Dallas in 2002, with his only full season coming with the Chicago Bears in 2003.
After leaving the NFL, he bounced around the Arena Football League before hanging up his pads for good in 2010.
Since his playing days ended, Gibson transformed his body and got down to 290 pounds, shaving 14 inches off his waistline.
More heavy players in NFL history:
- Michael Jasper – 375 lbs
- Anthony Rush – 361 lbs
- Orlando Brown Sr. – 360 lbs
- Leonard Davis – 355 lbs
- Jared Gaither – 350 lbs
- Phil Loadholt – 345 lbs
- Larry Allen – 335 lbs
- Jerry Ball – 330 lbs
- Vince Wilfork – 325 lbs
- Robert Gallery – 325 lbs
Heaviest Active NFL Players
According to Pro Football Reference, there were 455 active NFL players in 2022 weighing more than 300 pounds. That’s 20.7% of all players!
Here are the heaviest active players in the league today.
Dawand Jones, Offensive Tackle – 374 Pounds
Standing at 6’8”, OT Dawand Jones is one of the largest players in the NFL today.
Born in Indianapolis in 2001, he played football and basketball, with Division I offers in both.
With better prospects in football, Jones committed to play for Ryan Day at Ohio State and was later taken by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2023 draft.
With a 40-yard dash of 5.35 seconds, his weight is not holding this tackle back from being one of the most agile offensive linemen out there (the record is 5.32 seconds).
Jones took over as starting right tackle in Week 2 after a season-ending injury to Jack Conklin. He started 9 of the next 11 games before a knee injury landed him on IR.
He was one of two rookie tackles named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2023.
Trent Brown, Offensive Tackle, 380 Pounds
Born in Bastrop Texas in 1993, Trent Brown rose to fame following a distinguished college career.
Like Jones, Brown started off as a basketball player, moving to football in high school and sticking to it through college. He started out at the JUCO level with Georgia Military College before landing at the University of Florida.
Brown is believed to be the largest player to ever wear a Florida Gators uniform.
In 2015, the 49ers drafted him in the 7th round (244th overall). At the time, Brown was largely seen as a “project player” but quickly proved his worth.
Standing at 6’8” and weighing 380 pounds, he’s one of the tallest and heaviest players in the NFL today.
After working his way onto the field, he started all 16 games for the 49ers in 2016.
Brown was traded to the Patriots where he won the Super Bowl, then signed a free agent deal with the Raiders before landing back in New England in 2022. That contract with the Las Vegas Raiders made him the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history at the time.
In March 2024, he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Widely regarded as one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL today, Brown’s success comes down to his skill and ability to block pass rushers – rather than just his size.
Daniel Faalele, Offensive Tackle – 384 Pounds
At 384 pounds, this Australian-born offensive tackle is the heaviest player in the NFL today.
Faalele was born in 1999 in Melbourne, Australia and grew up playing rugby.
He was scouted by a recruiter from the University of Hawaii and encouraged to try American football at the IMG Academy in Florida. From there, he moved into the University of Minnesota in 2018.
Faalele turned down his first opportunity to enter the NFL Draft, opting to stay with Minnesota for his senior year. He was later drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 4th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. At 384 pounds, he became the heaviest rostered player in the NFL.
Faalele is also listed as one of the top 50 greatest living Australian athletes.
More of the heaviest players in the NFL right now:
- Caleb Jones – 370 lbs
- Jordan Mailata – 365 lbs
- Mekhi Becton – 363 lbs
- Ben Cleveland – 360 lbs
- Quinton Bohanna – 360 lbs
- Orlando Brown Jr. – 345 lbs
- Evan Neal – 350 lbs
- Michael Onwenu – 350 lbs
- Vita Vea – 347 lbs
- DJ Reader – 335 lbs
FAQs
At 410 pounds, OT Aaron Gibson was the heaviest NFL player ever. The former first-round pick was declared inactive in 2004.
Australian-born Daniel Faalele weighs in at 384 pounds, making him the heaviest rostered NFL player today.
The average NFL player comes in at an astounding 245 pounds, with more than 20% of all players weighing over 300 pounds.
No, not currently. There have been 3 players over 400 pounds in NFL history. Still, at 384 pounds, Baltimore Ravens’ Daniel Faalele comes pretty close.
Right now, it’s Derrick Henry who’s listed at 247 pounds. Historically, it’s Brandon Jacobs at 264 pounds – though he was only a few pounds ahead of Craig Heyward (260 pounds).
Jared Lorenzen, who topped out at 285 pounds during his NFL career (according to Pro Football Reference). The “Hefty Lefty” weighed as much as 500 pounds after his playing days were over.
Related lists:
Ranking The Heaviest NBA Players of All Time
