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American football players tend to be giants. In fact, some of the biggest athletes in the world currently play in the NFL, with their physicality and size enabling them to execute hard hits and tear through opponents. One of the most entertaining sports around today, these undisputed units more than play their part in the feast of action fans enjoy. Some players have certainly been heavier than others, though.
Throughout the history of the NFL, a number of memorable players have stood out for their sheer size. Of course, these same athletes have also had to overcome numerous struggles due to their large statures, with many players having to come back from serious injuries on their journey to the very top of the sport. A much-loved pastime that contains players of all shapes and sizes, we’ve also seen an array of smaller NFL players who come up against their heavier fellow professionals. Ultimately, though, the players with unrivaled physical prowess tend to win the battle on the field.
With NFL fans watching some undisputed monsters over the years, below is a look at some of the heaviest players to have graced the sport. Whether they dominate the offensive line or simply strike fear into their opponents, given the physicality they bring to the table, these impressive athletes clearly used their physical attributes to make it in one of the world’s most lucrative sports.
Jordan Mailata
Weighing 365 lbs, Jordan Mailata is a professional player many rivals don't relish coming up against. With experience playing rugby, the man from down under enjoys his battles on the field despite having relatively limited experience playing football. Despite this, though, the current Philadelphia Eagles player has become a starting left tackle and continues to contribute to the Eagles’ cause. He’s a beast.
Nate Newton
A player older fans of the sport will remember, Nate Newton was always significantly larger than many of the opponents he came up against. Weighing 401 lbs, Newton was also a highly talented player in his own right. He won the Super Bowl three times for starters, while he is also regarded as one of the finest offensive lines in NFL history. A player who clearly knew his strengths and used them to his benefit, he also earned six Pro Bowl selections and became known as “The Kitchen.”
Daniel Faalele
Yet another current player to make the list who also comes from Australia, Daniel Faalele is a key man for the Baltimore Ravens. While he also possesses plenty of skill and clearly knows how to perform on the field, Faalele’s sheer size is arguably his biggest weapon of all. The 2022 Draft pick weights 380 lbs and has exhibited his strength on numerous occasions while playing as the starting right guard for the Ravens.
Aaron Gibson

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As officially the heaviest NFL player the sport has ever seen, Aaron Gibson rarely lost a battle on the field. A formidable force, Gibson weighed a staggering 410 lbs. While his career didn’t exactly go to plan, it seems highly unlikely that his record as the heaviest NFL player in history will ever be broken. Gibson faced numerous challenges in his rise to the top of the sport, many of which ultimately resulted in his career coming to an end after just four years as a professional. Still, the former Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys unit proved a lot of people wrong by just making it in the sport in the first place.
Special mention must also go to Bryant McKinnie (386 lbs), William Perry (382 lbs), Trent Brown (380 lbs), and Michael Jasper (378 lbs).