Is there a height limitation in the NFL?

[Thespeckledkiwi]

What's to stop a team from grabbing a former basketball player/a really tall player and throwing them out on the field as a 3rd/4th receiver in red zone situations? I mean getting a receiver like 6'8"-7'0". They would be impossible to cover. And I mean the player wouldn't have to wear down if they are in the red zone. Just go to the end zone and the QB chunk it up. They jump. I don't think a CB or a S could defend against a player that height, especially if they are 5'8"-6'0"...

 

[DarkHelmet]

There is no height restriction in the NFL.

Jonathan Ogden (T) for the ravens is 6' 9".

The Steelers have 4 tight ends on their roster, all 6' 5" or taller.

 

[Garak]

It's not like when DarkHelmet goes to Six Flags and can't ride the roller coaster.

 

[DarkHelmet]

That's right, Garak - they don't let the man known as The Human Tripod on the ride.

 

[nevermore]

Jonathan Ogden (T) for the ravens is 6' 9".

6'9", 345, can't dance.

We also have a 2nd-year tackle, Jared Gaither, who is 6'9", 350. They're the tallest players in the NFL.

 

[DarkHelmet]

I gotta get Gebco!

 

[Alidar Jarok]

The problem with really tall people is that they are usually soft or very slow. If they're athletic, tall, and strong enough to avoid getting jammed at the line, they'd be in the NFL, where they can probably get paid more. If they're old enough to be retired from the NBA, they're certainly too old to play effectively in the NFL.

 

[Daedalus12]

I imagine the case would actually be the opposite i.e. if a player is tall and athletic enough for the NBA then it's better to try out for the NBA. Higher Salary, longer career, guaranteed contracts, etc. For the really tall players i.e Yao Ming quickness is not even required. Just need to be strong enough and have plenty of actual basketball skills. Awesome NFL tightends like Antonio Gates and Gonzalez were decent college basketball players but none of them are good enough for the NBA. I imagine both Lebron and Kobe would make awesome tightends or wideouts but they as expected went for the more lucrative and less stressful profession.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I meant to say NBA, not NFL. NBA players definitely get paid more (hell, NBA teams still pay and trade retired players contracts. Those contracts are almost impossible to get rid of).

 

[Thespeckledkiwi]

The problem with really tall people is that they are usually soft or very slow. If they're athletic, tall, and strong enough to avoid getting jammed at the line, they'd be in the NFL, where they can probably get paid more. If they're old enough to be retired from the NBA, they're certainly too old to play effectively in the NFL.

I don't know. With how things are going, I wouldn't be surprised to see a very tall wide receiver out on the line.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Well, both Randy Moss and Donovan McNabb, iirc, both considered playing basketball before they switched to football. But neither are tall for basketball players (6'4 and 6'2, I believe).

 

[Thespeckledkiwi]

Well, both Randy Moss and Donovan McNabb, iirc, both considered playing basketball before they switched to football. But neither are tall for basketball players (6'4 and 6'2, I believe).

Actually it's the right height for some basketball players. Not all of them are giants.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Yeah, but they're not exceptionally tall for football players and they're only guard height for basketball. The OP was talking about 6'9+ players who could be in the NBA who could potentially be unguardable.

 

[Skywalker]

LeBron James actually considered playing football before finally deciding on basketball (which I, and I'm sure everyone else, think was the right move). I shudder to think what would have happened to the poor guy's knees and legs if he'd decided to play football instead.

 

[gblews]

What's to stop a team from grabbing a former basketball player/a really tall player and throwing them out on the field as a 3rd/4th receiver in red zone situations? I mean getting a receiver like 6'8"-7'0". They would be impossible to cover. And I mean the player wouldn't have to wear down if they are in the red zone. Just go to the end zone and the QB chunk it up. They jump. I don't think a CB or a S could defend against a player that height, especially if they are 5'8"-6'0"...

I have no doubt that if a 6'10' or taller guy tried out at receiver and could get open and catch, some team would give him a roster spot. My guess though is that most guys with that kind height and athletic ability gravitate toward basketball. BTW, its not a sure thing that just because a player is much taller and can jump, that he will be able to catch the ball.

But most NBA players 6'10 and above are really the size of NFL defensive ends and outside linebackers. They're usually around 240 and up. If you've got a guy that height and ability, I'de make him an outside pass rusher. By NFL standards, Shaq is as quick as a cat, especially when he was in his prime. I suspect that those fat slow 340 lns. left tackles would have hell trying to keep him out of the backfield.

 

[ToddPence]

Harold Carmichael, a 6'8" receiver with the Philadelphia Eagles, had a Hall-of-Fame caliber career.

Richard Sligh, a 1967 defensive lineman with the Raiders, was the tallest player in post WWII pro football history at seven feet even. He played for just that one year.