NFL: The 5 Most Overweight Players in League History

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The NFL has long been known for one team's big guy versus another team's big guy.

Players just keep getting bigger, further perpetuating the "out-eat to out-play" moniker that the NFL has received.

From the game's grassroots, the guy with the bigger push wins, and a 400-pound man has more push than a 200-pound man.

Here is a tribute to those five players who do a lot of that pushing.

Korey Stringer

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Before we get to the humorous side of NFL obesity, we start the list on a rather somber note with the story of Korey Stringer.

Stringer was a 335-pound, productive offensive tackle who was on the rise (having earned Pro Bowl honors in 2000) when his life was cut short by complications due to intense practice in heat.

The lineman's death has given teams a new incentive to practice in lighter-colored uniforms and have team doctors on sight at practices.

Either way, Stringer's weight predisposed him to such events, and he makes the list here.

Aaron Gibson

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Do any type of search for the most overweight players in the NFL and Aaron Gibson is sure to come up a few times.

With good reason does Gibson make this list, having had the distinction of being the NFL's heaviest player ever.

Gibson, at one point, weighed in at 410 pounds, tipping the scales into the NFL record books and forever earning his spot on internet searches for fat football players.

Gibson struggled to find true success in the NFL, but he did have a good year in 2003, playing in all 16 games for the Chicago Bears.

William "The Refrigerator" Perry

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Endearingly nicknamed "The Fridge", William Perry is one of the most easily recognizable characters of the 1985 Bears.

It's not terribly easy to stand out with personalities like Mike Ditka, Buddy Ryan, Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, and Mike Singletary, but Perry is remembered.

The big offensive lineman checked in at a whopping 382 pounds at the height of his weight gain and always played the game with a smile on his face.

Perry could sing, dance, and play the game the right way—he will be remembered as one of the greats of the game.

Grady Jackson

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Grady Jackson was one of the biggest players to play the game, checking in at an average listed weight of 345 pounds.

Jackson was a productive member of the Atlanta Falcons, having racked up a league-leading amount of tackles for loss in 2006.

He bounced around from many teams in his career, finally leaving the game before the 2010 season.

The big defensive tackle gets a place on this list thanks to his weight and relative productivity.

Nate Newton

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Good for Nate Newton—he got a vertical gastrectomy and his life is back on track.

Either way, Newton pushed 400 pounds during his playing days and he easily makes this list thanks to his massive playing-days girth.

Newton had great longevity for a man his size, playing with the Cowboys for a good 13 years.

The behemoth lineman was able to garner six Pro Bowl appearances and win three Super Bowl rings—a rather successful career for a man of 400 pounds.