Who Is The Smallest Guy In The NFL?

The title of this blog post is pretty self-explanatory. We are going to take a look at who the smallest guy in the NFL is.

Introduction

In the NFL, size does matter. The average player is about 6’2” and 250 pounds, but there are always a few outliers. On the other end of the spectrum are the little guys, the 5’9” and under crowd. These players have to work a little harder to make it in the big leagues, but they can be some of the most exciting players in the game. Here is a list of the smallest guys in the NFL.

The Smallest Player in the NFL

There is one player who stands out among the rest when it comes to size. That player is the New England Patriots wide receiver, Julian Edelman. At just 5’9″, he is the smallest player in the NFL.

Who is the smallest player in the NFL?

At 5’7” and 175 pounds, Eagles wide receiver Bryce Treggs is the smallest player in the NFL. He was undrafted out of Berkeley in 2016, but he made an immediate impact as a rookie, catching 15 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown.

Treggs isn’t the only small player in the league; there are several players who measure in at 5’8” or less. Other notable players include Patriots running back Dion Lewis (5’8”, 195 pounds), Jaguars wide receiver Rashad Greene (5’9”, 182 pounds), and Bengals cornerback William Jackson III (5’10”, 189 pounds).

Even though they may be undersized, these players have proven that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. In a league that is becoming increasingly bigger and faster, these small players are proving that size doesn’t always matter.

How did he get there?

At just 5’7” and weighing in at 180 pounds, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver and punt returner, Darren Waller, is not your typical NFL player. Waller is the shortest and lightest player in the NFL, but that doesn’t stop him from being one of the most successful. How did he get there?

Waller was born in New Jersey and played football Growing up, he was always one of the smallest players on his team. In high school, he was only 5’5” and 145 pounds. He played running back and wide receiver and was also a kick returner. He was so successful as a high school football player that he received scholarships to play football at Georgia Tech and Temple University.

As a college football player, Waller continued to be one of the smallest guys on the field. He played wide receiver for both Georgia Tech and Temple. During his senior year at Temple, he had 43 receptions for 673 yards and six touchdowns. His performance earned him a spot on the American Athletic Conference All-Conference Second Team.

After college, Waller wasn’t drafted by any NFL team. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He was cut by the Ravens before the start of the season, but he was later signed to their practice squad. He remained on the practice squad for most of the 2015 season.

In 2016, Waller was placed on the Ravens active roster and he made his NFL debut against the Cleveland Browns. He didn’t have any catches in that game, but he did have two punt returns for 17 yards. Over the course of the 2016 season, Waller had 10 catches for 85 yards and one touchdown. He also had eight punt returns for 67 yards.

The 2017 season was Waller’s breakout season. He started 11 games for the Ravens and had 34 catches for 496 yards and four touchdowns. He also had seven punt returns for 100 yards and one touchdown. His performance earned him a spot on The Athletic’s All-AFC North team.

Waller had another successful season in 2018 with 58 catches for 558 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 20 punt returns for 149 yards

In 2019,Waller continued his success with career highs in catches (90), receiving yards (1,145),and touchdowns (7).He was named to his first Pro Bowl as well as being named a first-team All-Pro., catching everything thrown his way

What does he bring to the table?

At just 5’7” and 165 pounds, WR depth is something the Seattle Seahawks will have to address heading into training camp and the NFL regular season. The NFL is a big man’s game, and the Seahawks are no strangers to that fact. They have one of the biggest and most physical rosters in the league. But sometimes, size doesn’t matter.

Take WR Tyler Lockett for example. He may be one of the smallest guys on the team, but he brings a lot to the table. In his four years with the Seahawks, Tyler has proved to be a reliable target, hauling in 229 receptions for 3,077 yards and 25 TDs. He’s also a threat in the return game, averaging over 10 yards per punt return and scoring 4 TDs.

What Lockett lacks in size, he makes up for in heart and determination. He’s a fierce competitor and plays with a chip on his shoulder. That’s exactly the type of player you want on your team, regardless of their size.

The Littlest Linebacker

Who is the littlest linebacker in the NFL?

In recent years, the role of the linebacker has shifted from that of a run-stopper to a more versatile player who is responsible for both stopping the run and rushing the passer. This has caused many teams to look for smaller, faster players at the position.

So, who is the smallest linebacker in the NFL? That distinction belongs to Cleveland Browns rookie linebacker Mack Wilson, who is listed at just 5’11” and 225 pounds.

How did he get there?

Standing just five-feet tall and weighing in at 175 pounds, Nick Haag is the smallest linebacker in the NFL. Despite his size, Haag is an incredibly successful football player, starting for the Indianapolis Colts since 2016. So, how did a guy like Haag make it to the NFL?

Haag actually started out playing running back in high school. It wasn’t until his senior year that he was moved to linebacker, where he flourished. His junior year, he was named All-State and was also voted as his team’s MVP.

After high school, Haag played college football for Division II Adams State University. He had an impressive college career, racking up 300 tackles and 15 sacks. He was also named All-American twice and won the Gene Upshaw Award, given to the best Division II lineman or linebacker.

Haag went undrafted in 2016 but was quickly snapped up by the Colts as a free agent. He started 12 games his rookie year and has been a regular starter ever since. He’s had a huge impact on the Colts defense, despite his small stature.

So, while Haag may be the smallest guy in the NFL, there’s no doubt that he’s earned his place on the field.

What does he bring to the table?

Standing at just five-feet tall and weighing in at a measly 150 pounds, David Gettis is the smallest player in the NFL. Despite his size, Gettis has made a name for himself as a reliable wide receiver and special teams player.

So how does a guy like Gettis make it in a league full of giants? For one, he’s incredibly quick and agile, making him a tough target to defend against. He also has great hand-eye coordination and is able to pluck the ball out of the air with ease. Good route running and an understanding of the game help him create separation from defenders, and his fearlessness when going up for catches means he’s not afraid to take a hit.

In other words, don’t let his size fool you – Gettis is a tough competitor who has proven time and time again that he can hang with the best of them.

The Shortest Wide Receiver

Though he is not the shortest player in the NFL, Bob Hayes, who played for the Dallas Cowboys, is the shortest wide receiver in NFL history. Standing at just 6 feet tall, Hayes was a bit of an anomaly in the NFL.

Who is the shortest wide receiver in the NFL?

The shortest wide receiver in the NFL is currently Tavon Austin of the Los Angeles Rams. As of the 2019 season, Austin is 5’8” tall and weighs 174 pounds.

Though he is not the tallest player in the league, Austin has still been able to make a name for himself as a dangerous receiver. In his six NFL seasons, he has amassed nearly 4,000 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns. He is also a very successful punt returner, with 6 punt return TDs in his career.

While Austin is currently the shortest wide receiver in the NFL, there have been shorter players in the past. The title of shortest wide receiver ever goes to James Hawthorne, who was just 5’5” tall and weighed 155 pounds. Hawthorne played for five different teams during his brief career in the early 1970s, but never caught more than 19 passes in a single season.

How did he get there?

In order to make it to the NFL, players have to have a certain level of skill and athleticism. They also need to be big enough to withstand the physicality of the sport. At just 5’7” and 168 pounds, Ryan Switzer is one of the smallest wide receivers in the NFL.

So, how did he make it to the league? For one, he’s extremely quick and shifty. He ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, which was good for ninth among all wide receivers. He also had a vertical jump of 34 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 3 inches.

In addition to his athleticism, Switzer is also a smart player who protects himself on the field. He’s been able to avoid some big hits by using his quickness to get out of the way.

While he may be one of the shorter players in the league, Switzer has been able to find success in the NFL by using his speed and intelligence on the field.

What does he bring to the table?

In order to be the shortest wide receiver in the NFL, you have to be pretty darn good. Despite being diminutive in stature, these players more than make up for it with their speed, agility, and sure hands. Here are the shortest wide receivers in the NFL today:

-5’7” Tiny Richardson, Philadelphia Eagles
-5’8” Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks
-5’9” Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints
-5’9” Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
-5’10” Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

Conclusion

So, who is the smallest player in the NFL? At 5’7” and 180 pounds, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver and return specialist Damiere Byrd is the smallest player in the league. Byrd was signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 2015 and has been a valuable contributor on special teams throughout his career. Thanks for reading!