How Big Will Athletes Get?

[A.S. Deep]

In the late 1800s this man, nicknamed "Pudge," was considered big for football at only 6'3" 200lbs. Fast forward to now and you have guys like JJ Watt at 6'5 290lbs who can combine size and speed, and we've had Offensive Tackles as monstrous as 6'6 375lbs Aaron Gibson.

Things get even freakier when it comes to Strongmen. We now have taller guys like Hafthor Bjornsson (6'9 400lbs) and Brian Shaw (6'8 450lbs) in the sport. These guys would dwarf even the biggest NFL guys!

So how big do you see NFL and Strongmen getting? I picked these sports since size has a clear benefit. For example, imagine an over 7 foot man like Shaq getting into Strongman from a young age. He would be over 500lbs and mostly muscle! With advances in training, nutrition, recovery, PEDs, and recruiting, I can definitely see these guys getting way bigger.

 

[Possum Jenkins]

I think NFL guys have peaked.

Too lazy to look it up but I think the average weight for an offensive lineman has been in the low 300s for several years now. I remember people wondering how long it'll be until 350-pound linemen were the norm but they really haven't gotten that high. The few 350 lb+ dudes around aren't that great. I think I remember hearing of 400 lb linemen in college but they must have not panned out.

All animals have limits and it seems like for the specific athletic needs of football linemen, around 300 pounds is as high as they'll get.

 

[Screwtape]

I think it comes down to what the tendons, ligaments, and heart can support. Fuckin' grocery bills, too.

 

[dissectingaorticaneurysm]

drugs are the only reason 6'6+ guys can fill out their frame with muscle. They'd all be uncoordinated lanklets too weak to support their mass without it.

 

[TribalDrumz]

Humans are not supposed to be that large. Most of those guys heart fails on them or they will need major surgery and frail up. I would rather be an average looking old skinny lean strong guy who will live to a nice old age with my children looking after me.

None of those World's Strongest Men will really live past 70.

 

[Estemachine]

I think it comes down to what the tendons, ligaments, and heart can support. Fuckin' grocery bills, too.

This, just because you may be big, doesn't mean your body can properly support it. I have heard dozens of times from tall/big people that their back, neck hurts etc.

 

[IloveTHIS]

Idk but dude I would cough up $100 for a PPV real quick to see a fight between Cody vs that huge dude

also I wonder if Cody got to see his big feet

 

[Fuzzybabyducks]

the guy standing next to Cody is only 5'6

i remember hulk hogan slammed a giant back in the day...
his name was andre something... cant remember

 

[bubbleboyjones]

I think NFL guys have peaked.

Too lazy to look it up but I think the average weight for an offensive lineman has been in the low 300s for several years now. I remember people wondering how long it'll be until 350-pound linemen were the norm but they really haven't gotten that high. The few 350 lb+ dudes around aren't that great. I think I remember hearing of 400 lb linemen in college but they must have not panned out.

All animals have limits and it seems like for the specific athletic needs of football linemen, around 300 pounds is as high as they'll get.

Agreed. There have always been huge guys and those limits for what the body can handle has not changed. The average is much larger now but this has generally peaked.


The next step in human performance will be direct manipulation of the genome assuming this is allowed.

 

[TeTe]

Depends on people's breeding habits