Let’s face it National Football League is home to some of the fastest, strongest, and fiercest players in the world. These giants can outdo any physical fitness freak on or off the court.
While an average man can bench press 135 pounds, an average NFL player can bench press 225 pounds 20 times, far more than the average.
Strongest NFL Players (Source: Sports404)
But even in the league of the super athletes, some do really stand out.
Larry Allen can bench press 520 pounds 20 times at an incline. This 335 lbs. offensive lineman would knock the defenders unconsciously when he blocks them more than once.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at such 15 strongest NFL players in the world.
Quick Overview
Strongest NFL Players
Current Team
1. Aaron Donald
Los Angeles Rams
2. Andrian Peterson
Free Agent
3. Bobby Wagner
Seattle Seahawks
4. Conor Barwin
Retired
5. Chris Carson
Seattle Seahawks
6. Danielle Hunter
Minnesota Vikings
7. Larry Allen
Retired
8. DK Metcalf
Seattle Seahawks
9. Nigel Bradham
Retired
10. Saquon Barkley
New York Giants
11. Bruce Smith
Retired
12. Johny Unitas
Retired
13. Dick Butkus
Retired
14. Walter Payton
Retired
15. Emmitt Smith
Retired
Strongest NFL Players in the World
The information and details has been compiled from trusted sites on the web, including NFL.com and Wikipedia.
15. Emmitt Smith
Born: May 15, 1969 (52 years)
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 216 lbs. (98 kg)
Position: Running back
Team: Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals.
Roster Status: Retired
Holding the 15th spot is one of the best running backs in NFL history.
Emmitt Smith is a former running back in NFL who played for 14 seasons.
From 1990 to 2002, Smith played for the Dallas Cowboys. Whereas he played for the Arizona Cardinals from 2003 to 2004.
Noted as a durable back with excellent vision, tremendous leg strength, and great balance, Smith did 225 bench presses 19 times and 850 squats in the 1990 NFL draft.
Emmitt Smith (Source: Lunafebrun)
Besides, Smith holds a record for highest rushing yards with 18,355, touchdowns with 164 in NFL history.
Moreover, he is the only running back in NFL to win a Super Bowl Championship, Super Bowl MVP, the NFL MVP Award, and rushing crown in the same season.
Further, the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee has a record of 4 times NFL rushing leader, 515 catches, and 11 receiving touchdowns in 3,224 receiving yards.
14. Walter Payton
Born: July 25, 1954
Died: November 1, 1999 (45 years)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 200 lbs. (91 kg)
Position: Running Back
Team: Chicago Bears
Walter Payton was a running back for NFL’s Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1985.
In 1977, Payton led the Bears in rushing yards and touchdowns. At that time, the NFL awarded him MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.
Payton could dead-lift 685 pounds back in his NFL days.
During his retirement, Payton had a record of 9 Pro Bowls, 1986 Super Bowl XX Champion, 492 catches, and 15 touchdowns in 4,538 receiving yards.
Walter Payton (Source: Chicago Tribune)
In his career days, the 1993 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Payton had the highest rushing yards, touchdowns, and all-purpose yards.
Currently, he ranks 2nd with 16,726 rushing yards and 5th with 110 rushing touchdowns.
In 1999, Payton succumbed to bile duct cancer at 45.
13. Dick Butkus
Born: December 9, 1942 (79 years)
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 245 lbs. (111 kg)
Position: Linebacker
Team: Chicago Bears
Roster Status: Retired
Dick Butkus is a former linebacker in NFL’s Chicago Bears.
He played for nine seasons with the Bears from 1965 to 1973.
Butkus was renowned as the intimidating tackler in NFL.
Dick Butkus (Source: Facebook)
The 245 lbs. NFL player Butkus used to push a car up and down to strengthen his legs in his high school days.
During his retirement, Butkus had a record of 8 Pro Bowls, eight times All-Pro, 22 catches, and 27 fumble recoveries in 119 games.
Moreover, he was twice NFL Defensive Player of the Year and 1979 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.
12. Johnny Unitas
Born: May 7, 1933
Died: September 11, 2002 (69 years)
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 194 lbs. (88 kg)
Position: Quarterback
Team: Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers
Johnny Unitas, famous as the “Golden Arm,” was a quarterback in NFL’s Baltimore Colts.
He played for the Colts for 17 seasons from 1956 to 1972. In 1973, Unitas played his last game with the San Diego Chargers.
With the Colts, he appeared in 10 Pro Bowls, winning 3 NFL Championships and 1970 Super Bowl V.
Johnny Unitas (Source: www.tennessean.com)
During his NFL career, Unitas was eight times All-Pro, three times NFL MVP, and led the Colts in passing touchdowns four times.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted him In 1979 in 1979.
Unitas held a record for the longest consecutive games at touchdown pass with 47 for 52 years.
Further, he had a record of 290 touchdowns and 253 catches in 40,239 passing yards.
In 2002, Unitas succumbed to a heart attack at 69.
11. Bruce Smith
Born: June 18, 1963 (58 years)
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 265 lbs. (120 kg)
Position: Defensive end
Team: Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins
Roster Status: Retired
Holding the 11th spot is one of the best defenders of all time in the NFL.
Bruce Smith is a former defensive end in NFL who played for 19 seasons.
Smith played for the Buffalo Bills from 1985 to 1995. Whereas he played with the Washington Redskins from 2000 to 2003.
Bruce Smith (Source: Celebrity Net Worth)
During his NFL career, Smith was 11 times Pro Bowl, ten times All-Pro, and had a record of 1,225 tackles, 43 forced fumbles, 200 sacks, and four touchdowns.
The 265 lbs. former NFL player does 20 -30 minute workouts in his stair climber for strong core muscles, hamstrings, and calves.
Smith has the highest sacks record in NFL history with 200. The Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted him in 2009.
Chris Carson is a running back in NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.
In 2017, the Seahawks selected Carson in the seventh round of the NFL draft.
Chris Carson (Source: DraftKings Nation)
Till now, he has earned 107 catches and 24 rushing touchdowns in 3,502 rushing yards.
Moreover, one of the strongest NFL players globally, Carson can squat 500 lbs. and bench press 218 lbs. with 23 reps.
4. Connor Barwin
Born: October 15, 1986 (35 years)
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 255 lbs. (116 kg)
Position: Outside Linebacker
Team: Houston, Texas, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Giants.
Roster Status: Retired
Conor Barwin is a former outside linebacker in NFL.
From 2009 to 2018, Barwin played for the teams like Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants.
Since 2020, he has been serving as a special assistant to the general manager of the Eagles.
Connor Barwin (Source: Philadelphia Eagles)
With the Eagles, Barwin appeared in the 2014 Pro Bowl. That same year, the NFL named him the Second-Team All-Pro.
At the time of his retirement, Barwin had a record of 366 tackles, 56.5 sacks, 43 pass defenses, and six forced fumbles.
3. Bobby Wagner
Born: June 27, 1990 (31 years)
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 242 lbs. (110 kg)
Position: Middle linebacker
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Roster Status: Active
Bobby Wagner is a middle linebacker for NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.
In 2012, the Seahawks selected him in the second round of the NFL draft.
Bobby Wagner (Source: CNBC)
Till now, Wagner has appeared in 8 Pro Bowls and earned 1,383 tackles, 23.5 sacks, 11 catches, four touchdowns, six pass defenses, and six forced fumbles.
Moreover, he is the 2013 Super Bowl XLVIII Champion and eight times All-Pro.
2. Andrian Peterson
Born: March 21, 1985 (36 years)
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 220 lbs. (100 kg)
Position: Running back
Team: Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saint, Washington Redskins, Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions, and Seattle Seahawks.
Roster Status: Free Agent
Andrian Lewis Peterson is a free agent running back in NFL.
In 2007, the Minnesota Vikings selected Peterson in the NFL draft. He played with the Vikings for nine seasons.
Besides, Peterson led the Vikings 3 times in rushing yards and appeared in 7 Pro Bowls.
Andrian Peterson (Source: The Pewter Plank)
After that, he played for Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, and Seattle Seahawks.
Till now, he has a record of 305 catches and 120 rushing touchdowns in 14 918 rushing yards.
In 2007, Peterson broke the NFL record with 296 rushing yards in a single game for which he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The world’s second strongest NFL player, Peterson performs an intense 7 mile- treadmill workout and can bench press 440 lbs.
1. Aaron Donald
Born: May 23, 1991 (30 years)
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 280 lbs. (127 kg)
Position: Defensive tackle
Team: Los Angeles Rams
Roster Status: Active
On the top spot comes one of the greatest defensive NFL players of all time.
Aaron Donald is a defensive tackle for the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams selected him in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft.
With the Rams, Donald has appeared in 8 Pro Bowls and won the 2021 Super Bowl LVI.
Aaron Donald (Source: Acme Packing Company)
Till now, he has earned 441 tackles, 98.0 sacks, 23 forced fumbles, and 16 pass defenses.
Moreover, Donald is three times NFL Defensive Player of the Year and seven times First-Team All-Pro.
The world’s strongest NFL player, Donald does 300 reps-ab workouts, 500 lbs. bench presses, and drinks 12 smoothies a day.
You’re missing a bunch players, and how did Johnny U make the list?
How about:
Bob Young
Randy White
The entire O line of the 1970’s Steelers