His name is John “House” Taylor and he is HUGE! He is a defensive lineman for the Central Penn Piranha, a Gridiron Developmental Football League team, based out of Enola, Pennsylvania. At 6’11” and 500 pounds, House is easily the largest football player to ever play. The only other players even close to his size were former NFL offensive tackle Aaron Gibson who was the heaviest man to play (410 lbs), and former AFL defensive tackle Richard Sligh who was the tallest man to ever play the sport (7 feet).
You would think at that size he would be a star player for the Piranhas, but he has a specific purpose as WHP-TV explains:
“House” has a simple job on defense — take up space. An offense can’t block, what an offense can’t see. “If they can’t see the linebackers, they don’t where they coming from, the offensive linemen,” said Ron Kerr, the owner and head coach of the Piranha. “He has to be double-teamed. He’s too big not to be.”
[…]
In fact, he spends most games on the sidelines, waiting for his number to be called; the Piranha primarily uses Taylor in short-yardage situations, when the other teams needs to pick up only a few, tough yards.
House, now 35, said there was one point when an NFL scouted him, but they were concerned he was too heavy. He says he has concerns about his own weight and plans to lose some pounds when his football days are done.
As one opposing player put it:
“One time, I actually fell and he fell on top of me,” said center Nate Gibson, a thirteen-year veteran. “I could have sworn I had two broken ribs.”
[Deadspin]
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