You see him on the sideline and your brain just sort of short-circuits for a second. Even next to guys who are 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, he looks like he belongs on a different planet—or at least a different court. We're talking about the tallest guy in the nfl, a title that carries a lot more weight (literally) than just a fun trivia fact.
In a league where being "big" is the entry fee, there’s a massive difference between being a large human and being a literal giant.
Most fans assume the tallest players are just there to be obstacles. You know, big bodies to clog up the middle or human walls to protect a quarterback. But once you get north of 6-foot-8, the physics of football change completely. Leverage becomes a nightmare. Your center of gravity is somewhere up in the rafters. Honestly, it’s a miracle these guys can even get into a three-point stance without toppling over.
Dan Skipper: The Reigning Giant of the Gridiron
Right now, if you're looking for the actual tallest guy in the nfl on an active roster in 2026, the name you need to know is Dan Skipper.
Standing at a massive 6-foot-10, the Detroit Lions offensive tackle is a literal outlier in every sense of the word. He’s been a bit of a journeyman, bouncing around the league since 2017, but he’s become a cult hero in Detroit. It’s not just the height; it’s the fact that he actually plays.
Usually, when a guy is this tall, he’s a project. A "we’ll see if he can move his feet" kind of prospect. But Skipper has logged over 60 games. He’s even caught a few passes as an eligible receiver, which, if you haven’t seen it, looks like a giraffe trying to navigate a crowded living room. It’s spectacular.
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Why 6-foot-10 is Actually a Problem
You’d think being the tallest guy would be an advantage, right? Not always.
- Leverage: In the NFL, "low man wins" is the golden rule. When you’re 6-foot-10, staying lower than a 6-foot-3 defensive end is basically impossible.
- The Target Area: Defensive players love to go for the knees. A taller player has more "surface area" to get hit, and those long legs are vulnerable.
- Foot Speed: Moving 330+ pounds on a 6-foot-10 frame requires an insane amount of coordination.
Skipper has survived in the league because he’s learned to use his wingspan—which is predictably ridiculous—to keep defenders away from his chest. If he gets his hands on you first, it’s over. You aren’t getting around him because the detour is just too long.
The 7-Foot Ghost: Richard Sligh and the All-Time Record
While Skipper is the tallest active player, he isn't the tallest in history. That honor belongs to Richard Sligh.
Back in 1967, the Oakland Raiders drafted Sligh, who stood a flat 7-feet tall. He’s still the only verified 7-footer to ever play in an NFL (or AFL) game. He was a defensive tackle, and the idea was that he’d just swat down every pass that came anywhere near the line of scrimmage.
It didn't really work out that way. Sligh only played eight games.
The problem with Sligh—and many of the giants who followed—was that the game was just too fast. In the 60s, being 7 feet tall was even more of a freak occurrence than it is now. He was a brilliant guy, too; he was on the Dean’s List at North Carolina Central with a biology major. But on the field, the lack of mobility was a killer.
The "Too Tall" Legacy
We can’t talk about height without mentioning Ed "Too Tall" Jones. He was 6-foot-9, which is just an inch shorter than Skipper, but he played defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys for 15 seasons.
He’s the gold standard. He proved that you could be the tallest guy in the nfl (at the time) and still be a dominant, Hall-of-Fame level athlete. He used those long arms to bat down passes so often it became a recorded stat. Before "Too Tall," people didn't really track "passes defended" for linemen. He changed the geometry of the line of scrimmage.
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The New Breed: Daniel Faalele and the Massive Tacks
If Dan Skipper is the tallest, Daniel Faalele is arguably the "biggest."
The Baltimore Ravens tackle is 6-foot-8, but he weighs in at roughly 380 pounds. He’s Australian, coming from a basketball and rugby background, and he represents the new era of NFL giants. These aren't just tall guys; they are wide, dense, and surprisingly quick.
The Ravens use Faalele as a human snowplow. When you have a runner like Lamar Jackson, having a 6-foot-8 wall that can move laterally is basically a cheat code.
Other Giants to Watch in 2026
- Caleb Jones: A 6-foot-9 monster for the Green Bay Packers. He’s spent time on the practice squad and active roster, weighing in at nearly 370 pounds.
- Jordan Mailata: The Eagles' left tackle is "only" 6-foot-8, but his wingspan and rugby-style power make him feel much larger.
- Trent Brown: Another 6-foot-8 veteran who has spent years being one of the most difficult blocks in the league because of his sheer mass.
Does Height Actually Help a Quarterback?
There’s this obsession with tall quarterbacks. Scouts love the 6-foot-5 guys like Trevor Lawrence or Justin Herbert.
The theory is simple: a taller QB can see over the massive offensive linemen. If you’re 5-foot-10 like Kyler Murray, you have to find "windows" to throw through. If you’re 6-foot-6, you just look over the top.
But there’s a limit. Brock Osweiler (6-foot-7) and Dan McGwire (6-foot-8) are often cited as examples of height being a detriment. When your arms are that long, your throwing motion takes longer. It’s a "long-lever" problem. A split-second delay in your release in the NFL is the difference between a touchdown and a pick-six.
The Physical Toll of Being an NFL Giant
Honestly, being that big is hard on the body.
Most of these guys deal with chronic back issues or foot problems. Think about the pressure on a pair of ankles when you’re 6-foot-10 and 330 pounds, trying to stop a 270-pound defensive end who is running at you at full speed. It's a lot.
Dan Skipper has had to fight through a lot of roster cuts and "not quite good enough" labels to stay in the league. Part of that is just the reality of his frame. You have to work twice as hard on your flexibility and footwork just to move like a "normal" sized player.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Scouts
If you’re watching a game and trying to spot the tallest guy in the nfl, don’t just look for the tallest helmet. Look for the footwork.
- Watch the pad level: See if the tall guy can get his hips lower than the defender. If he can, he wins the rep 100% of the time.
- Check the reach: A guy like Skipper can touch a defender before the defender can even get close to his body. That "first contact" is the most important part of the play.
- Look at the special teams: Often, these giants are used on field goal blocks. Their job is simply to put their hands up and hope the kicker has a low trajectory.
The NFL is slowly moving away from the "lumbering giant" phase and into the "athletic freak" phase. Height is still a massive advantage, but only if it comes with the balance of a much smaller man. Dan Skipper has proven it’s possible to stay relevant at 6-foot-10, but he’s the exception, not the rule.
To see these giants in action, pay close attention to the Detroit Lions' offensive line during goal-line situations. You’ll see number 70 reporting as an eligible receiver, and you’ll realize just how much of an impact those extra inches make when the ball is in the air.