While there’s no present player in the National Football League (NFL) who surpasses the 400-pound mark, a handful have approached or achieved this significant scale. Among these football giants, Desmond Watson has already created a unique legacy for himself as the heaviest player in NFL history. Hailing from Florida, the 6-foot-6, 464-pound defensive tackle is aiming to start his professional football journey with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his home team, after being undrafted. His incredible size combined with his abilities on the field is expected to make headlines when he attends the Bucs’ three-day rookie minicamp that commences this Friday.
Watson’s mass might cover up to as many spectators as that of the first-round draft selection of the team, former Emeka Egbuka from Ohio State. With none of the current NFL players exceeding 400 pounds, the Baltimore Ravens’ Daniel Faalele holds the record for the heaviest player around at 380 pounds. Still, NFL has seen several colossal players in its archives who have played near the 400-pound scale. Here, let’s take a stroll through the memory lane to revisit some of these mammoth NFL figures.
Aaron Gibson, at 410 pounds, did turn heads when he was selected as the first-round draft pick from Detroit in 1999. Following a stint of anchoring the Lions line-up in 15 games, Gibson was let go midway through his third season, primarily due to a shoulder issue that plagued him during his early professional years. This unfortunate setback found him in the injured reserve list in each of his initial two seasons.
Post his time with the Lions, Gibson had brief stints with the Dallas and Chicago teams before his NFL career concluded with the Buffalo in 2006. Finding himself waived off towards the end of their training camp, Gibson continued his football journey with the Arena Football League. Following the end of his playing days, he struggled with depression and reached a peak weight of about 480 pounds.
Among other notable NFL heavyweights, Terrell Brown weighed in at 403 pounds. Picked up by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted novice from Mississippi in 2013, his 6-foot-10 frame weighed in 15 pounds heavier than what then-coach Jeff Fisher had anticipated. Although Brown successfully shed a few pounds during the training camp, his efforts didn’t culminate in him making the cut, despite the Rams having deployed him as a right tackle.
Weighing in at 401 pounds, Nate Newton found himself released by Washington. However, his career took a dramatic turn when he began his time with the Dallas Cowboys after a two-year spell (1984-85) in the USFL. Newton gained the nickname ‘The Kitchen’ in light of his extraordinary size. A challenge from then-Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson led to a shift in Newton’s efforts towards better fitness.
The evolution of Newton in the 1990s into one of the league’s most dominant guards is well documented. His talent heralded him to six Pro Bowls, where he defended the likes of Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman, playing a crucial role in the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl victories. Retirement saw Newton tip over the 400 pounds, but surgery in 2010 saw him lose almost half of his weight.
Michael Jasper, another colossal player, weighed a hefty 394 pounds. Despite reaching a whopping 450 pounds during his dual role at Bethel University of the NAIA, he was chosen in the seventh round of 2011 by Buffalo. During training, he dropped 75 pounds but was eventually released. Jasper later landed on Buffalo’s practice squad but never made an appearance in a regular-season game. He has since taken the helm at Stetson.
Bryant McKinnie, standing firm at 386 pounds, played 179 games over a 12-year career. As a college player, he stood out at Miami. Following his selection as the seventh overall pick by Minnesota in 2002, McKinnie’s 6-foot-8 structure took on his weight admirably, with his career peaking when he made the Pro Bowl in 2009, and later, taking the Super Bowl with Baltimore in the ensuing 2012 season.
Another key figure in NFL’s heavyweight history was William Perry, who weighed 382 pounds. Chosen by Chicago in 1985 as a first-round draft pick, Perry quickly earned himself the nickname “The Refrigerator” and became an instant hit with fans in his rookie year. Besides his great defensive skills, Perry also ran a total of five times for 7 yards and scored two touchdowns during the regular season.
Perry had a memorable touch-down run against New England in the 1986 Super Bowl, which became a classic moment in NFL history. With a thumping TD plunge followed by an exuberant spike celebration, he captured the audience’s hearts. William Perry’s pro career concluded with a tally of 524 tackles and 29 1/2 sacks spanning over 138 games.