Why Size is Overrated in Football — Spencer Ferrari-Wood

In the 2019 NFL Draft, a 5’10” quarterback was taken with the first overall pick. Prior to that 2019 season, a 5’11” quarterback signed a four-year, $140 million contract, which was the largest in NFL history at the time. Most would argue that the best player in the NFL today—until his recent retirement—was a 6’1” defensive tackle.

Teams are starting to realize that it's smarter to recruit and draft great football players, not great size and potential.

Want some more examples just for fun?

Sure, why not.

The NFL's all-time leading rusher is a 5'9" running back. Another running back, recognized as the most elusive running back of all-time, stands at only 5'8" and is a Pro Football Hall of Famer. One of Tom Brady's favorite targets with the Patriots was a 5'8" wide receiver who holds fourteen NFL records.

Before we go a little deeper into the topic, let's examine the opposite of the bests: busts.

Widely recognized as the biggest NFL bust of all-time, JaMarcus Russell was the top pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. A towering quarterback prospect at 6'6" and weighing in at 265 pounds at his pro day, Russell was drafted because of his great size and potential, not because he was a great football player. The player drafted immediately after him in the 2007 NFL Draft? Recent inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and arguably the greatest athlete to ever play the game, Calvin Johnson.

The biggest NFL bust of all-time before Russell was another big-time quarterback prospect. Ryan Leaf stood 6'5" and weighed 235 pounds and was drafted because of—you guessed it—his great size and potential, not because of his demonstrated ability to be a great football player. The player drafted two picks after him in the 1998 NFL Draft? Recent inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and one of the most decorated defensive players to ever play the game, Charles Woodson.

My personal favorite NFL bust is a name you might not know: Tony Mandarich. The 6'6" Mandarich weighed 315 pounds and was plastered on the front of Sports Illustrated as “the best offensive line prospect ever.” After receiving the highest salary ever for a rookie offensive lineman, Mandarich told reporters "I am not like other players, I am Tony Mandarich, and they have to understand that." The player drafted immediately after him in the 1989 NFL Draft? That 5'8" running back referenced earlier.

Players with great size

Sure, there are physical specimens in the NFL today. Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, DK Metcalf, and Chris Jones are easy examples of NFL players with incredible size and measurables. But these athletes, and many others, have paired their God-given abilities with a tireless work ethic. This is an incredibly important distinction to make.

Legendary American long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine famously said, "To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift." What a tremendously applicable quote to forever remember.

If you are gifted with exceptional size as a football player, to give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice that gift you were given. Use to the fullest amount that which other players don't have available to them. Chase greatness.

Players who lack great size

Maybe you are reading this as another undersized football player. If you’re not as big and strong as the player across from you, remember that if size mattered the elephant would be the king of the jungle.

Killer instinct matters more than physical ability; it always will. You need to identify and appropriately implement your own Mamba Mentality.

Unwavering confidence, relentless preparedness, and killer instinct are going to be the traits that separate you from the rest of the animals in the jungle.

Final words

If size was the primary contributing factor to football success, then every 6'6" behemoth who weighs 300+ pounds should be playing on Sundays. Every tall and thick quarterback should be getting paid millions to throw a ball. Every linebacker should look like the Incredible Hulk.

But that's not the case. There are people who live in your neighborhood who might look like that. There are men around the world who have been blessed with terrific physical attributes. You probably know a weight room warrior who isn't worth a dime on the football field.

Size can be an advantage in football, no doubt. But if it isn't paired with a formidable work ethic and a strong desire to be great, then the physical specimen is just one out of twenty-two players on a field. Nothing special.

If you want to be great, be the uncommon man. If you want to be average, be the commoner. The choice is yours.