As an Amazon Associate, Modded gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
The NFL is full of muscular men who are world-class athletes. However, some guys are a head above their peers. Who are the strongest NFL players in 2026? While strength varies by position, the most jacked NFL players could inspire your next workout.
Not to keep you on your toes any longer, here are the 10 strongest NFL players today who have terrorized opponents more than anyone else — a few of the toughest legends to ever step in the field.
1. Saquon Barkley
Position: Running back
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 233 lbs.
Bench press: 29 reps of 225 lbs. at the combine
Why did the New York Giants let Saquon Barkley go in free agency? They must have forgotten his strength, size and overall athleticism. The former Penn State Nittany Lion is now on the Philadelphia Eagles and is arguably the strongest football player today. Barkley has impressed the masses since the 2018 NFL Draft Combine and videos of his strength training. Recently, the half-back squatted 585 lbs. and reminded everyone of his quad strength.
Strength can sometimes harm running backs if their muscles slow them down. However, it’s a key reason why Barkley is among the strongest players at the running back position in the NFL. If you’re an Eagles fan, you’re familiar with Barkley’s explosion ability. There’s a reason why Barkley is an elite player in fantasy football and real life! Even the most jacked linebacker in the NFL doesn’t want to face him.
2. Jalen Hurts
2. Jalen Hurts
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 223 lbs.
Bench press: 275 lbs. as a high school junior
Is it fair to see two players on the same NFL team who can boast the strongest physiques? Along with Barkley, Jalen Hurts is another force to be reckoned with on the Eagles. The quarterback has incredible strength, and it shows when the offense does the brotherly shove. Other teams have tried it, but Hurts’ ability to push into the end zone separates him. The former Oklahoma Sooner can squat 600 lbs. and barely break a sweat.
Hurts’ strength didn’t come out of the blue — the quarterback has been intensely training since his grade school days. In high school, Hurts was a powerlifter and excelled at squatting and deadlifting. The intense workouts and powerlifting benefit the Eagles’ offensive leader because he needs durability. When you take as many hits as he does, you need a strong body to absorb them. If not, you could be on the injury report.
3. DK Metcalf
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 235 lbs.
Bench press: 27 reps of 225 lbs. at the combine
DK Metcalf is the most physically imposing receiver in the NFL. As a 21-year-old, he gained national attention at the University of Mississippi for his god-like physique and has built on his reputation for strength. Metcalf is known for bullying defensive backs, often shoving them to the ground on running plays in a display of dominance. It’s hard to imagine a receiver bigger than Ja’Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson and possibly being better.
Metcalf also possesses elite speed despite his large frame, running 10.37 seconds in the 100-yard dash in the 2021 Olympic Trials. He has quickly become a beloved player with the Seattle Seahawks, leading the team in receiving yards and terrorizing smaller defenders every week. If he maintains his physique, he’ll be one of the strongest NFL players until he retires. The key for Metcalf is maintaining his health throughout his prime years.
4. Myles Garrett
Position: Defensive end
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 271 lbs
Bench press: two reps of 585 lbs. during the off-season
If an NFL team could create the perfect defensive end in a laboratory, the result would be Myles Garrett. The 27-year-old Cleveland Brown has a superhuman frame with mind-blowing strength and quickness. In addition to his 33-rep performance on the bench press, he ran 40 yards in 4.64 seconds and recorded a 41-inch vertical jump at the 2017 NFL Combine. Despite being in the NFL for nearly a decade, he remains one of the most powerful in the league.
Despite being in a stacked draft class, Garrett was the #1 overall pick to the Cleveland Browns and has led the NFL with 80 sacks since coming into the league. He showcased his Olympian physique in the 2019 ESPN Body Issue and has only grown larger in the years since. He’s one of the most jacked NFL players ever without question.
In his NFL career, Garrett is a former Defensive Player of the Year and a six-time All-Pro team member. While the Browns haven’t seen much success, their star defensive end has been the anchor. The former Texas A&M Aggie has maintained his physique and remains as strong as he was when entering the 2017 NFL Draft. Garrett said he could do two reps of 585 lbs, so he’s undoubtedly in the conversation to be the strongest NFL lineman.
5. Beaux Limmer
Position: Center
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 302 lbs.
Bench press: 39 reps of 225 lbs. at the combine
Who was the strongest NFL player from the 2024 draft class? Look no further than Beaux Limmer. The former Arkansas Razorback is part of the Los Angeles Rams and has already worked his way into the starting lineup. If you block for Matthew Stafford and Kyren Williams, you have to be one of the most jacked NFL players. The center — who can also play guard — blew away the competition by doing 39 reps of 225 lbs. last year.
Judging whether a prospect will pan out is challenging. While physique can give you insight, NFL players can significantly vary in strength and skills. Fortunately for the Rams, Limmer can provide both. Coming from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), he has plenty of experience against talented defensive players.
6. Jordan Jefferson
Position: Defensive tackle
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 316 lbs.
Bench press: 34 reps of 225 lbs. at the combine
While Zimmer turned heads at the 2024 Combine, Jordan Jefferson came in second with 34 reps in the bench press. The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted the former LSU Tiger at 116th overall in the fourth round. Jefferson didn’t see the field for much of the first half of the season. That said, he’s come on strong in the second half. Against the Eagles, Jefferson recorded his first sack. After getting waived before the 2025-2026 season began, Jefferson changed his stripes and became a Cincinnati Bengal.
If you’re a defensive lineman, your strength comes from your protein-heavy diet and time in the weight room. Jefferson proves you need power and finesse at the position to excel, especially against the league’s top offensive lines. In college, the interior defensive lineman demonstrated quickness and agility that you don’t typically see in this position. When you combine strength and speed, you get an ideal physique from your NFL players.
7. Mazi Smith
Position: Defensive tackle
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 323 lbs.
Bench press: 34 reps of 225 lbs. at the combine
When you’re on the Dallas Cowboys, the attention and pressure increase. After all, your jersey represents a $9-billion franchise and the world’s most popular sports team. Smith showed out at the 2023 NFL combine by leading all players in 225-pound bench press reps, posting 34. With his 323-pound frame, the former Michigan Wolverine is already one of the largest players in the NFL. Apparently, that size translates to brute strength.
Smith was a stud at Michigan, making the First-team All-Big Ten in his junior year. Following his college career, he became the first defensive tackle drafted by the Cowboys in over three decades. Strength and physicality were significant reasons for Smith’s high draft stock. While his agility doesn’t blow anybody away, his ability to shake off tacklers demonstrates why he’s among the strongest NFL players from the 2023 draft class.
8. Keion White
Position: Defensive end
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 285 lbs.
Bench press: 30 reps of 225 lbs. at the combine
If you’re wondering who the strongest underrated American football player today is, it might be Keion White. The New England Patriots’ defensive end recorded 30 reps of 225 lbs. in his bench press. White had a solid day at the 2023 NFL Draft Combine, and his time in the weight room helped his draft stock. Additionally, he recorded a 34-inch vertical and a 117-inch broad jump. With his height and weight, he’s one of the most jacked NFL players.
The former Georgia Tech Yellowjacket has already made an impact in just two seasons. Against the Bengals, White got 2.5 sacks on elite quarterback Joe Burrow in New England’s win over Cincinnati. This win would later be consequential and push the Bengals outside the playoff picture. The Patriots’ struggles this season haven’t been because of White, though there is promise with Drake Maye. Could he be the next Tom Brady for New England?
9. Zion Johnson
Position: Offensive guard
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 316 lbs.
Bench press: 32 reps of 225 lbs. at the combine
The Los Angeles Chargers saw something special in Zion Johnson and drafted him 17th overall in 2022. If you watched his Combine tape, you witnessed a great showing on the bench press. The former Boston College Eagle and Davidson Wildcat posted 32 reps of 225 lbs to lead all 2022 rookies. Most notably, he outshined future stars like Kayvon Thibodeaux, Hassan Haskins and Cameron Jurgens.
Since the draft, Johnson has demonstrated his first-round potential. In 2023, he made the Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA) All-Rookie Team. In his third season, Johnson has become an integral part of one of the best offensive lines. The Chargers are full of the strongest NFL players who rarely let quarterback Justin Herbert get sacked. While injuries have hurt the line, they’re still a solid unit.
10. Derrick Henry
Position: Running back
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 247 lbs.
Bench press: 440 lbs. during the 2022 NFL off-season
Who is the strongest NFL player today? Eight years ago, you could have said Derrick Henry. Today, you can still see strength in the star Baltimore Ravens running back. The former Alabama Crimson Tide star has defied expectations by churning out games with 100 yards or more on the ground. Sometimes, he turns back the clock and posts nearly 200 yards if the defense can’t stop him.
Henry’s physique makes him one of the most unique NFL players because he’s tall and strong. At this size, you’d expect him to play tight end or offensive line. In the past, Henry said he had to watch his diet because he could put on too much weight. Can you imagine how much harder it would be to tackle Henry if he ate and trained like he wanted to? The Ravens star isn’t in his final form, which should scare the rest of the league.
Strongest NFL Players Deserving of Honorable Mentions
These physical specimens didn’t make the cut only because the active players deserve the spotlight. However, no football fan who had seen these four play would bat an eye when their names are mentioned in the conversation of the strongest NFL players to ever live.
Larry Allen
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 325 lbs.
Bench Press: 700 lbs. in 2001
The late great Larry Allen was arguably the strongest NFL player of all time. His bench press numbers didn’t make any sense. The former Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle was of average size for his position, but he was noticeably stronger and faster than other linemen. He was so strong that he could’ve been a successful powerlifter or strongman if he hadn’t played football.
Allen was the only player in history to earn the title of Strongest Man in the NFL thanks to his feats of strength in the weight room and on the field. He also had the skills to back up his power, as he made the All-Pro team six times, made the 1990s All-Decade team and got elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Aaron Donald
Position: Defensive tackle
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 285 lbs.
Bench Press: In the range of 400-500 lbs.
Aaron Donald is the best defender of his generation and was arguably the strongest NFL player up until his retirement in 2024. Although severely undersized for his position — most defensive tackles are around 6’3” and 300-plus lbs. — Donald has made a living from overpowering bigger NFL players. He constantly gets double-teamed but still manages to disrupt almost every play.
Donald played college football at the University of Pittsburgh and has spent his entire NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams. He won Defensive Player of the Year three times, made the All-Pro team seven times and is just the second defensive tackle to record 100+ sacks in his career.
J.J. Watt
Position: Defensive end
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 288 lbs.
Bench Press: 500 lbs. circa spring of 2017
When looking at J.J. Watt it’s sometimes hard to believe he actually played football and wasn’t a star of the World’s Strongest Man Competition on ESPN Classic. When Watt wasn’t winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards or helping raise $41.6M for Houston’s Hurricane Relief Fund, he was in the weight room. Until his retirement in 2022, he was a strong contender for the top spot among the strongest NFL players.
Watt put up big numbers at the NFL Combine with 34 reps on the bench press. While that number is impressive, it’s important to know Watt never skips a leg day. J.J.’s warmup squat is a measly 600 lbs. before squatting 700 lbs. That’s what many would call big boy weight, folks.
James Harrison
Position: Outside linebacker
Height: 6’
Weight: 240 lbs.
Bench Press: 525 lbs. while working out two days before his 45th birthday
James Harrison retired from the NFL in 2019, but even in his final years, he instilled fear in the hearts of opponents. He wasn’t blessed with strength or speed, but he built it through sheer hard work. He owes a lot of his success to his dedication in the weight room — his intense workouts speak for themselves.
The former undrafted linebacker out of Kent State turned two-time Super Bowl Champion and NFL Defensive Player of the Year played the same amount of snaps for the Steelers at age 28 as he did at age 38. His standards for in-season weight training resembled the lengths other players strive for to keep their bodies in peak shape all season long.
Outmuscling the NFL’s Strongest Players
The NFL has stiff competition with guys competing for roster spots and multimillion-dollar contracts. So, how can you separate yourself from your competition? Showing your strength is a key factor. If you can out-block and stiff-arm defenders, you can make a name for yourself. The most jacked NFL players aren’t always the best performers, but they’re the last guys you want to compete against.
The Average NFL Workout Routine
A professional football player not only needs to possess the intelligence to learn a playbook and read the rival’s scheme on the fly, but he must also retain the perfect balance of strength and athleticism to out-hit, out-block and out-jump the opponent across from him. As such, the strongest NFL players treat their bodies like temples.
From employing personal chefs and acupuncture therapists to spending the wee hours of the morning in the weight room, some players don’t know when to quit. You may think there’s not enough time in the day for them to fit these extra workouts and therapy sessions into their schedule during the football season, but they do. They always find a way.
Not all players on this list are visually ripped, but the strength remains. They realize their bodies provide for their family and it shows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to the most common questions about the strongest NFL players.
Who Is the Strongest Player in the NFL?
Among active players, most American football fans can make a solid argument for Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts, DK Metcalf, Myles Garrett, Beaux Limmer, Jordan Jefferson, Mazi Smith, Keion White, Zion Johnson and Derrick Henry.
Historically, many consider Larry Allen the strongest football player of all time. Although Aaron Donald, J.J. Watt and James Harrison have retired, longtime fans still remember how tough these brawny brutes were in their day.
Based on the NFL Draft Combine record book, Justin Ernest, Mike Kudla, Mitch Petrus, Stephen Paea and Leif Larsen were the strongest ever to hold a pigskin. Although none of them had stellar professional careers, they tallied the highest number of bench press reps in history and in the same order. In 1999, Ernest benched 225 lbs. 51 times — the only person to do at least 50 at the combine.
Can Every NFL Player Bench 225?
The average NFL player can bench press 225 lbs., although some may not be able to. Smaller skill position players like kickers may struggle because of their lower body mass.
Skinnier quarterbacks may bench-press for three to eight reps to gain strength, but they rarely do it at the combine. The activity presents unnecessary injury risk, as high upper-body strength is less relevant to their role in the field.
What Is Tom Brady’s Bench Press?
Tom Brady’s max bench press is 245 lbs. In August 2024, he posted a video of himself doing bench presses at 47 on his YouTube channel. He started at 225 lbs., and then moved to a heavier weight after one rep.
Brady’s workout demonstrates that strength gains are possible after the age of 40 — not bad for a quarterback who didn’t perform the bench press at the combine and showed underwhelming performance in front of NFL scouts in 2000.
Who Are the Most Jacked NFL Players?
DK Metcalf, Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley and Myles Garrett are arguably the most jacked NFL players today. Their immense strength and impressive muscle definition put them in a league of their own.
Is There a 400-lb Player in the NFL?
Yes, there are several NFL players over 400 lbs. Defensive tackle Desmond Watson at 449 lbs. could’ve made history for being the biggest player in the NFL ever had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers not waived him. Until Watson makes his professional debut, the distinction still belongs to Aaron Gibson at 410 lbs., Terrell Brown at 403 lbs., and Nate Newton at 401 lbs.
The Strongest Human Battering Rams in NFL History
Think you can stand toe to toe with the strongest American football players ever? From breaking records on the field to performing ridiculous workouts, each of these players has pushed their bodies to the max and left everything on the field, granting them a spot on this list. Give one of their workouts a try and see if you have what it takes to keep up with professional athletes.
Originally posted 12/5/2018 — Last updated 1/5/26
