The Heaviest NFL Player Ever Eclipsed All 2024-2025 Players

By: Zach Taras  | 
While the NFL has long been known for having some of the biggest, heaviest players in any sports league, sheer size is neither necessary nor desirable for every position. Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

If you've ever watched professional football, you've probably noticed that the players tend to be built rather large. Not all positions, mind you, but some of them certainly appear to be carrying quite a lot of mass.

This might make you wonder: In terms of poundage, who is top of the heap when it comes to the heaviest NFL player in the 2024-2025 season and of all time?

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5 Biggest Players in the NFL: Present Day

Today's NFL has some seriously hefty dudes out on the gridiron. The listing below ranks the heaviest NFL players in today's game.

1. Trent Brown (380 lbs)

At 380 lbs (172.4 kg), Trent Brown is currently the heaviest player in the NFL. An offensive tackle for the New England Patriots, he began his professional career in 2015 for the San Francisco 49ers. Before going pro, Brown played college football for Georgia Military College and the University of Florida.

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2. Daniel Faalele (379 lbs)

Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Faalele switched from rugby to football as a youth, and later played football at the University of Minnesota. His weight is often listed as 380 lbs (172.4 kg) or 379 lbs (171.9 kg) which places him very close to Trent Brown. Faalele currently plays as a guard for the Baltimore Ravens.

3. Caleb Jones (370 lbs)

Playing offensive tackle for the New England Patriots, Jones weighs 370 lb (168 kg). Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Jones played football at Indiana University before turning pro. He was initially signed to the Green Bay Packers.

4. Jordan Mailata (365 lbs)

Also from Australia — and a former rugby player — Mailata's weight is 365 lbs (166 kg). Currently he plays offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles.

5. Mekhi Becton (363 lbs)

Weighing 363 lbs (165 kg), Becton is a guard for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Louisville, and started his professional career for the New York Jets in 2020.

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5 Heaviest Players in NFL History

As far as weight goes, we've seen some impressive numbers in the NFL's current roster, but the record books go back many more years. The following list ranks the heaviest players in NFL history.

1. Aaron Gibson (410 lbs)

With a weight of 410 lbs (186 kg), Aaron Gibson easily takes the cake for heaviest player ever. As an offensive tackle, he was a first round pick in the NFL draft for the Detroit Lions, and later signed with the Dallas Cowboys, the Chicago Bears and the Buffalo Bills.

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Since his retirement, after struggling with mental and physical issues, he's focused on his health and slimmed down to 290 lbs (132 kg).

2. Tarrell Brown (403 lbs)

When the St. Louis Rams (who later moved to LA and became the Los Angeles Rams) signed Brown, he weighed in at a whopping 403 lbs (183 kg). He eventually got down to 388 lbs (176 kg), but his initial weight still earns him a place in the history books.

3. Nate Newton (401 lbs)

Playing as an offensive lineman in the 1980s and 1990s — mostly for the Dallas Cowboys, who he helped win three Super Bowls, then for the Carolina Panthers — Newton was known for his mass but also for his skill.

He earned his nickname, "The Kitchen" by being even bigger and heavier than William "The Refrigerator" Perry, who we'll meet momentarily. At his heaviest, Newton weighed 401 lbs (182 kg).

4. Bryant Mckinnie (386 lbs)

McKinnie's pro career began when was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2002 NFL draft. In a career that saw him play offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins and with a weight of 386 lbs (175 kg), he easily finds himself near the top of the list of the heaviest players in NFL history.

5. William Perry (382 lbs)

William "The Refrigerator" Perry's nickname tells you pretty much all you need to know. During his almost decade-long career, he played for the Chicago Bears (with whom he won a Super Bowl) and the Eagles. He weighed in at 382 lbs (173 kg).

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What Positions Do the Heaviest Players Play?

The biggest players in the sport of American Football are offensive and defensive linemen. In both positions, your job is to use your mass to obstruct and dominate the the players of the opposite team.

This is especially true of the offensive tackle position (one of the linemen positions) which sees some of the largest players. T.J. Barnes, who was a defensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets, weighed 364 lbs (165 kg).

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But while the NFL has long been known for having some of the biggest, heaviest players in any sports league, sheer size is neither necessary nor desirable for every position. While it makes sense for some players to have nicknames like "The Refrigerator" and "The Kitchen," they don't tend to be, say, wide receivers or kickers.

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