The NFL’s Tallest Players Are True Monsters
You know that NFL players tend to be very large men, but do you know how tall they are? Imagine being a quarterback and sitting in the pocket looking for a wide receiver to throw to. Suddenly your sight is blocked by a 330-pound, seven-foot-tall monster. There's no escaping the bruising that's about to get put on you. That's why it helps to be Ben Roethlisberger, big and tall enough to stand up to the punishment; maybe even throw a touchdown in the process. These are the tallest football players of all-time, and they prove size does matter.
Dan McGwire Is The Tallest QB Ever
Dan McGwire was taken by the Seattle Seahawks with the 16th overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft. At the time the 6'8" behemoth was seen as a can't miss prospect. After four years on the bench, Seattle admitted he was a bust and let him walk in with free agency.
McGwire signed with the Dolphins, similar to Osweiler, and played there for one season before retiring. If you recognize his last name, that's because he's the brother of MLB legend Mark McGwire.
J.D. Moore Is The Tallest Running Back Today
John David Moore is currently a running back for the Kansas City Chiefs. Drafted out of LSU, Moore stands at 6'4" and spent his 2018 season on the injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. Trying to make the team as a fullback, Moore's replacement is Anthony Sherman, the shortest in the league.
Bert Coan Is The Tallest Running Back In History
Standing an inch above the competition, Bert Coan is the tallest running back in NFL history, measuring in at 6'10." Coan played for the Chiefs from 1962 until 1968 and racked up 1,259 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has one of the fastest 100-yard dash times in league history.
Honorable mention on this spot goes to Brandon Jacobs, pictured above. A standout for the New York Giants during their 2000's Super Bowl campaigns, Jacobs was a bruising runner at 6'4" and 264 pounds. His 60 touchdowns is a New York franchise record.
The Tallest Safety Ever Is A Familiar Face
Proving there is a height cap at the safety position, Iloka is considered the tallest safety ever in the NFL. Trust us, it's a difference of centimeters. Going deeper into his young career, we can see why the Vikings were willing to give the talented player a second shot after being released by Cincinnati.
In his time with the Bengals, Iloka was nothing if not consistent. He was never a Pro Bowl caliber player but did his best effort on the field every Sunday. With the Vikings, he now has a chance to reach his full potential and maybe even win a Super Bowl ring!
The League's Tallest Punter Ever Also Played Wide Receiver
A funny thing happens when you're tall. You sign with a team to play one position, then they look at you and think you can play more. That's what happened to 6'6" punter Pat McInally when he was signed by the Bengals in 1976.
Not only was a great punt, but for four years the team used him as a wide receiver. From 1977 until 1981 McInally racked up 808 receiving yards. He's also the only athlete to ever score a perfect 50 out of 50 on the Wonderlic test.
Tanner McEvoy Is 2018's Tallest Wideout
Tanner McEvoy is currently relegated to the New Orleans Saints practice squad, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be on this list! As a rookie with the Seahawks in 2016, the 6'6" wideout flashed signs of his potential, even catching a 22-yard touchdown reception against the Packers.
In 2018, he's working his way back into the fold with New Orleans, hoping to get a chance to play football from Drew Brees. With Michael Thomas as Brees' main target, McEvoy has some serious competition. Is he up for the challenge?
Harold Carmichael Was Impossible To Defend
Coming out of college, 6'8" wide receiver Harold Carmichael probably could have played in the NBA if he wanted to. He was so tall that Southern University used him as their starting center on the basketball team. Carmichael chose the NFL and became a legend in Philly.
These days he's remembered as much for his height as he is for his accomplishments on the field. In 1973, Carmichael led the league in receiving yards and was a matchup nightmare for defensive backs. The Eagles inducted him into the team Hall of Fame in 1987.
Calais Campbell Is The League's Tallest Defensive End
Calais Campbell had a coming out party in Jacksonville in 2017, recording 14.5 sacks and earning First-team All-Pro honors. To top off his year, the Pro Football Writers of America named the 6'8" giant the Defensive Player of the Year. We'd say he was a pretty good pick-up in free agency!
Before coming to Jacksonville, Campbell spent eight seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, who selected him with the 50th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. When he became a free agent in 2016, several teams bid for his services, but no one offered as much as the Jaguars.
Ed "Too Tall" Jones Earned His Nickname
Ed Jones was nicknamed "Too Tall" because everyone thought he was too tall to be successful. He proved them all wrong all wrong when he was taken as the first overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 1974. He spent the next 15 season in Dallas, earning three All-Pro selections along the way.
Living the dream at 6'10," Jones took a brief detour from the NFL in 1979 to take a jab at a boxing career. When he retired in the '80s, Jones had 106 career sacks, the third most in team history.
The 49ers Have The League's Tallest Cornerback Tandem
The tallest cornerback tandem in the NFL with both Richard Sherman and Akhello Witherspoon measuring 6'3."
There are four other cornerbacks in the league right now with the same height; Kevin King, Tre Flowers, Simeon Thomas, and Adonis Alexander. It's this pair that's stands out to us, though.
Brandon Browner Was Just Taller Than Everyone Else
Brandon Browner had a roller coaster ride of a career in the NFL. The record-setting 6'4" cornerback played for four teams, was selected to two Pro Bowls. While he won a Super Bowl, he was also rated one of the worst defenders in the league. He added five seasons playing in Canada to his resume, too.
Like we said, his career was very topsy turvy. The peak, no doubt, was his Super Bowl-winning campaign with the Patriots in 2014. The lowest of the low, we're guessing, is the next year when he set the league record for penalties with 24. It wasn't him, ref!
You've Probably Never Heard Of Cornelius Joseph Dennis O'Donoghue
Cornelius Joseph Dennis O'Donoghue is the NFL's tallest kicker of all-time. Standing at 6'6", we only wish his accuracy was as impressive as his height. O'Donoghue played nine seasons in the NFL, retiring with a 59.3 percent accuracy. That's... not good.
His longest field goal was a 52-yarder. His best season came in 1984 when he set his team's record for the most points scored, with 117. Coming in a close second height-wise is Joe Nedney, one of the league's best kickers of all-time.
JK Scott Is Punting Balls And Taking Names For The Packers
Part of the 2018 rookie class, John Kimball Scott holds the distinction of being the tallest punter in the NFL at 6'5." Taken with the 172nd overall pick, the Packer is currently averaging 46 yards per punt. Not bad for a rookie!
During his college career, he played for Alabama, where he helped the team win two national championships. He was twice named First-team All-SEC and the second punter to be taken in the draft.
Tanoh Kpassagnon Will Bat Down The Ball As A Linebacker
Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Tanoh Kpassagnon measures in at 6'7" and 280 pounds. He plays outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs and has the length to bat any ball down at the line of scrimmage. Do you think you could throw past him?
Kpassagnon played his college ball at Villanova and was taken in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Over the course his two-year NFL career, he has 16 tackles and two sacks but promises there is much more where that came from.
They Called Ted Hendricks "The Mad Stork" For A Reason
Ted Hendricks stands head and tails above his linebacking competition as the tallest ever. Known as "The Mad Stork" he was a true match up nightmare for opposing offensive linemen and quarterbacks. One of greatest to ever play the position, Hendricks was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame after retiring.
By the time he called it quits he had used his height to block 25 field goals and recover 16 fumbles. He went to eight Pro Bowls and was touted as one of the smartest players to ever put on a uniform.
The Tallest Tight End In The League Isn't Who You Think It Is
When you think about who the biggest tight end in the NFL is, you probably think Rob Gronkowski or Travis Kelce. We're not looking for the biggest, though, we're looking for the tallest. That distinction belongs to Detroit's Levine Toilolo and Houston's Jevoni Robinson.
Incredibly, both men are 6'8" and don't need to create separation to catch passes in traffic. The quarterback just needs to throw the ball high. Really high. Unfortunately, neither have been incredibly productive this year. Robinson hasn't even caught a single pass!
This Tight End Was So Tall The League Named A Rule After Him!
Morris Stroud was a 6'10" tight end who used every bit of it as a Chief to annoy kickers. Kansas City didn't use Stroud as a traditional tight end. Instead, they would have him lineup under the upright during field goals to swat the ball down before it cleared the upright.
The NFL decided this was a dirty play and created the "Stroud Rule" outlawing goaltending under the post. Oddly enough, Stroud never successfully blocked a field goal this way. In 1962, 6'3" R.C. Owens did it in a game against the Redskins.
Running Over Defenders Easily
Brandon Jacobs is one of the Giants most accomplished running backs in history. The 4th round draft pick from 2005 has two Super Bowl titles on his resume thanks to his Giants beating the Patriots twice.
The big guy stands at 6'4", which is incredibly tall for a running back. He used the height to his advantage on his way to becoming the Giants' franchise leader in career rushing touchdowns. Who really wants to try and tackle him?
The Beast Tackle
Jonathan Ogden had the honors of becoming the first draft pick in Baltimore Ravens history. It must have been exciting when they called his name 4th overall in 1996. He repaid them by spending his whole career in Baltimore.
He secured a Super Bowl ring in 2011 after the Ravens beat the Giants. The 6'9" tackle was also a nine-time All-Pro and made the NFL's All-Decade team for the 2000's decade. None of those accomplishments are easy.
The Unanimous All-American
Standing at 6'7", Robert Gallery was a unanimous All-American in 2003. In college, he was First Team Big 10 from 2002-2003. After college, the Oakland Raiders drafted him 2nd overall in the 2004 draft.
In that time, many experts said he was the best linemen coming out of college in years. That's some pretty high praise no matter what position you play. The only thing, he never would live up to his hype in the NFL.
