The Strongest Players In NFL History

When it comes to brute strength, the NFL seeks this ability more than any other professional sports league. Granted, strength isn't the only thing needed to be a great football player, but for these players, they prove upper and lower-body strength is five steps in the right direction.

Larry Allen

It doesn't get any stronger than the Cowboys' powerful guard. When Allen entered the NFL, he could bench press 500 pounds, and he only got stronger as he got in the weight room in Dallas. By the time he retired, his one-rep max was approaching 700 pounds, something only six men in history have ever achieved.

Vernon Davis

A tight end isn't supposed to be able to do a 460 bench press while retaining the athletic ability of a wide receiver, yet that's what Davis did in his career. He was strong enough to open holes for running backs while presenting a nightmare when defenses tried to stop him in the passing game, making him one of the toughest matchups in the game.

James Harrison

If at first you don't succeed, hit the weights and keep at it. That was Harrison's path to a 13-year NFL career, as he responded to getting cut by Baltimore by jumping to rival Pittsburgh, becoming one of the NFL's strongest players and one of the Steelers' most valuable linebackers. Even after retiring in 2017, Harrison's bench numbers still sit in the 500-pound range today.

Terry Long

Long didn't have much football experience when he came out of high school, but he became the ultimate workout warrior during his time in the Army Special Forces, bulking 100 pounds by lifting every chance he got. The results piqued the interest of colleges and NFL scouts, as Long eventually got up to a 565 bench and a 900-pound squat during his career with the Steelers.