American football is a physically demanding sport. Players are slamming into each other at great speeds at any time during the game, fighting and wrestling for supremacy. The game is hectic, fast-paced, and utterly chaotic to the untrained eye. Football is a physically demanding activity, and to compete properly, you must have a standard physique in terms of health, weight, and height. Let’s take a look at the physicality of some of the players’ positions.
You don’t need to be tall to play football however you must train hard to ensure that your body is capable of meeting the physical demands of the sport. Although the prevalent misconception of football is that it is mainly for tall players, the game’s versatility allows athletes of all shapes and sizes to excel.
Average Height of NFL Player
The average player height in the NFL is 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm), while the average player weight is 260 pounds (118kg). Players can range in height from 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm) to 6 feet (183 cm). An NFL player is unlikely to weigh less than 250 pounds (113 kg).
According to SB Nation, today’s draftees are bigger than those in the 1970s and 1980s. In 2013, the typical defensive tackle weighed roughly 305 pounds (138 kg), compared to around 270 pounds (122 kg) for a defensive player in the 1970s. Nose tackles are now the heaviest players in the NFL.
Quarterback
The quarterback is the one primarily accountable for a successful offensive attack. He’s a crucial aspect of the offense, and his abilities alone may frequently make the difference between a good and fantastic attack. The only physical quality that matters is that he can throw the football accurately and powerfully. He should be tall, with broad hands and shoulders, and have some speed and mobility.
The average height of an NFL quarterback is 6 ft 3 in (192 cm) with a weight of 224.97 lbs (104 kg).
Taller quarterbacks usually have an edge since they can see massive offensive and defensive linemen above their heads while passing the ball. A short quarterback, on the other hand, has superior balance and a faster release time than a tall quarterback and can get under a tackle and avoid being covered more quickly.
Running Back
For players with a smaller frame, running back is a preferred position. Opponents find it tough to handle them efficiently due to their tiny physique and low center of gravity. They can also easily evade opponents by slipping behind the huge offensive line that caused so much difficulty in the first place. Running back is one of the most physically demanding positions on the field. Every time he touches the football, he is hit hard, thus he will need to be physically strong enough to endure a beating. His major goal is to escape being tackled, hence he must have lightning-fast feet. While speed is vital for a running back, it is not as important as it is for a cornerback or wide receiver. Many effective running backs rely on their size and strength to bulldoze their way past defenders rather than running around them.
The average height of an NFL running back is 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) with a weight of 214.48 lbs (98 kg).
Running backs who are under 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) are far more common than those who are over 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m).
Wide Receiver
Wide receivers must not only be able to catch the ball, but they must also be fast. That doesn’t mean players have to be lightning-fast in straight lines; in American football, there are two types of “fast”: speed and quickness.
Straight-line speed refers to the ability to line up against another man and defeat him in a foot race. Quickness entails breaking away from defenders and creating enough space to become open in a short amount of time, employing quick feet and superb body control.
These skills are what define you as a great player for this position, and the best players always have both.
The average height of a wide receiver is 6 ft 0 in (184 cm) with a weight of 200.32 lbs (92 kg).
The position of the wide receiver requires height. To catch high-throw passes, tall players can move substantially higher than lower defensive defenders. However, this advantage isn’t ideal because excessively tall players are frequently inflexible and lack overall strength.
Tight End
In football, the tight end can serve as a receiver or an extra blocker on the offensive line. Tight ends are required to be strong enough to block while yet having enough mobility to get open downfield to catch passes, similar to an offensive lineman and wide receivers. Because many tight ends are extremely tall, they are a prime target for quarterbacks. Tight ends are frequently the most physically powerful athletes on the field.
The average height of a tight end is 6ft 5 in (194 cm) with a weight of 254.26 lbs (116 kg).
Offensive Line
The function of an offensive lineman is to block. Every game, an offensive lineman will be required to collide with a very large defender attempting to get by him and to have the strength to prevent this from happening. As a result, size and strength are critical in this position, whereas quickness is less important.
Quick feet, on the other hand, are a valuable quality for an offensive lineman since they are frequently asked to conduct complicated blocking techniques that involve quick, accurate motions in a small space. If you’re taller than most of your buddies but yet light on your feet, the offensive line can be a good fit for you.
The average height of an offensive line is 6 ft 5 in (194 cm) with a weight of 314.16 lbs (143 kg).
Defensive Line
Defensive linemen must be just as big and strong as their offensive line rivals when facing massive offensive linemen on every play. Most defensive linemen have a little excess fat around their midsections and strong legs to help them stabilize against offensive linemen trying to push them backward. A position on the interior defensive line may be for you if you are a big man with strong legs who can maintain his ground against a big push.
The average height of a defensive line is 6 ft 5 in (194 cm) with a weight of 314.16 lbs (143 kg), the same as the offensive line.
Pass rusher (Defensive End/Outside Linebacker)
Pass rushers come in a variety of sizes and forms, and their purpose is to line up on the defensive line’s outside and try to beat the offensive line to the quarterback. There are various approaches to this.
Some pass rushers are nearly as big as defensive linemen and rely on their sheer strength to overpower blockers, while others rely on their speed and agility to outrun their opponents. These “speedy gonzaleses” still need a lot of strength to fight in hand-to-hand confrontation, but they’re constructed more like tight ends than defensive linemen.
The average height of a pass rusher is 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) with a weight of 308.97 lbs (142 kg).
Linebacker
Linebackers in football must be of substantial stature in order to shed the blocks of offensive linemen. On most teams, offensive linemen are the biggest players on the field.
When blocking an undersized linebacker, the offensive lineman will have a size and power advantage. To get around offensive linemen, it is recommended that the linebacker be big, strong, and quick.
The average height of a linebacker is 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) with a weight of 244.64 lbs (112 kg).
Cornerbacks
Because it is their responsibility to run with the wide receivers and prevent them from making catches, cornerbacks are frequently the fastest players on the field. A lack of physicality at cornerback will be obvious. They must be quick in tight spaces as well as in a straight line, and they must be able to jump properly.
In order to play the position, they must be able to keep up with wide receivers. Because they are rarely called upon to make tackles against running backs or take on offensive linemen’s blocks, size is not a need for a cornerback. Cornerbacks are usually the quickest players on the pitch, but they are also the smallest.
The average height of a cornerback is 5 ft 1 in (156 cm) with a weight of 193.4 lbs (88 kg).
Safety
In American football, safety is one of the most physically demanding positions. While you do not need to be as quick as a cornerback, you do need to be fast enough to compete with wide receivers. Because they cover the middle of the field and come into contact with running backs and offensive linemen more frequently than cornerbacks, safeties must be slightly larger than cornerbacks. The best safeties can tackle like linebackers while also covering like cornerbacks.
The average height of a is 6 ft 2 in (189 cm) with a weight of 220 lbs (100 kg).
Shortest Football Player in History
Jack Emanuel Shapiro was a former American football player with the Staten Island Stapletons who is officially recognized as the NFL’s shortest player. Despite the fact that he never achieved the status of a magnanimous superstar, with his 5 ft 1 (155cm) he became a source of inspiration for many people.
Without a doubt, he was the first to breach the barrier that had previously existed between players of shorter stature and those of taller stature.
Tallest Football Player in History
Officially, at 7 feet (213cm) tall, Richard Sligh is the tallest player in NFL history.
The Oakland Raiders selected him in the 10th round of the 1967 NFL Draft.
In 1967, he only played in eight games as a rookie, but he was a reserve when the Raiders won Super Bowl II. Unfortunately, he only finished one season before retiring at the end.
Conclusion
A football player’s average height varies depending on his position. Depending on the position, being taller or shorter can be advantageous or harmful. The athlete’s weight is more essential than his height in some situations. These athletes, on the other hand, are frequently taller because they can handle the extra weight while maintaining their agility and athleticism. The NFL, as one might imagine, has the tallest football players.
