How 22 NFL players lost weight after retiring and became unrecognizable

Cork GainesOct 1, 2022, 21:52 IST

Getty Images

Former Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl offensive lineman Marshal Yanda lost 64 pounds in the first four months after retiring from the NFL.
While many former athletes struggle with weight gain after their careers, many NFL players lose a ton of weight after retiring, revealing the great and dangerous lengths they go to maintain their oversized bodies.
One common theme among many of these players is the position they played. Most of the players below were offensive linemen, suggesting those players do more to push their body weight to an extreme, developing dangerous habits like consuming massive amounts of calories to maintain their playing sizes.

10-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer Joe Thomas is regarded as one of the best offensive linemen ever. He spent most of his career playing at 310 pounds and said he was "more eager to lose weight than almost anything in retirement."

Joe ThomasGetty Images

10-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer Joe Thomas is regarded as one of the best offensive linemen ever. He spent most of his career playing at 310 pounds and said he was "more eager to lose weight than almost anything in retirement."

Source: NFL Network

He is now an analyst for the NFL Network and it it took less than nine months after his final NFL game to lose 50 pounds. When asked how he did it, he chuckled and said, "You just don't eat until you feel like you're gonna throw up at every meal and all of a sudden the weight falls right off."

Joe ThomasNFL Network

Source: NFL Network

He is now an analyst for the NFL Network and it it took less than nine months after his final NFL game to lose 50 pounds. When asked how he did it, he chuckled and said, "You just don't eat until you feel like you're gonna throw up at every meal and all of a sudden the weight falls right off."

Source: NFL Network

8-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Marshall Yanda played his final NFL game at 312 pounds, retiring after the 2019 season and 13 years in the league, all with the Baltimore Ravens.

Ron Schwane/AP

8-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Marshall Yanda played his final NFL game at 312 pounds, retiring after the 2019 season and 13 years in the league, all with the Baltimore Ravens.

Five months after retiring, Yanda was down to 248 pounds by working out and eating less, telling "The Pat McAfee Show," "I didn't really realize it at the time how much I was doing to keep that weight on, but obviously, it has come off really fast, and shoot, I feel so much better."

The Pat McAfee Show

See more at The Pat McAfee Show.

Five months after retiring, Yanda was down to 248 pounds by working out and eating less, telling "The Pat McAfee Show," "I didn't really realize it at the time how much I was doing to keep that weight on, but obviously, it has come off really fast, and shoot, I feel so much better."

David Pollack weighed as much as 297 pounds as a defensive lineman in college, and he last played in the NFL in 2006 as a 260-pound linebacker for the Bengals.

David PollackPat Sullivan/AP

After a career-ending injury, Pollack is now a 220-pound college football commentator for ESPN. Pollack says he just got smarter about what he eats and when he eats it.

ESPN

SOURCE: @davidpollack47 and MensFitness.com

David Carter was a 300-pound defensive lineman for the Cardinals and Cowboys.

David CarterChristian Petersen/Getty Images

Carter lost 40 pounds in 6 weeks after becoming a vegan and is now a model.

Instagram

Source: Independent

Brad Culpepper (No. 77) was a 275-pound defensive tackle for three different teams and retired after the 2000 season.

Brad CulpepperReuters

Source: @monicaculpepper

Here is Brad Culpepper with his wife on the show "Survivor." He says it was pretty easy to lose 80 pounds because he simply stopped eating all the extra food needed to maintain his playing weight.

CBS/Survivor

Source: sptimes.com

Here is Brad Culpepper with his wife on the show "Survivor." He says it was pretty easy to lose 80 pounds because he simply stopped eating all the extra food needed to maintain his playing weight.

Will Montgomery was a 305-pound offensive lineman with a size 42 waist who played for 5 teams in 9 seasons.

Will MontgomeryGetty Images

Montgomery now weighs 225 pounds — his lowest weight since high school — and has a 34-inch waist. He did it by cutting out sugars, no longer eating pasta and bread, and drinking more red wine and less beer (Montgomery is on the left).

Twitter

Source: Washington Post

Montgomery now weighs 225 pounds — his lowest weight since high school — and has a 34-inch waist. He did it by cutting out sugars, no longer eating pasta and bread, and drinking more red wine and less beer (Montgomery is on the left).

Source: Washington Post

Mike Golic played for 3 teams in 8 seasons, most famously as a defensive tackle for the dominant Eagles' defense of the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was listed at 280 pounds during his career.

Mitchell Layton/Getty Images, Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Mike Golic played for 3 teams in 8 seasons, most famously as a defensive tackle for the dominant Eagles' defense of the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was listed at 280 pounds during his career.

Golic is now a podcast/radio host and college football commentator. He has slimmed down considerably.

Mike Golic Sr.Instagram

Alan Faneca was a 320-pound offensive lineman for the Steelers, Jets, and Cardinals, and he last played in 2010.

Alan FanecaGetty Images

Alan Faneca has lost 105 pounds since he stopped playing, and he completed his first marathon in 2014.

Alan FanacaTwitter

Source: @lianefaneca and WashingtonPost.com

Nick Hardwick was a 300-pound center for the San Diego Chargers who retired after the 2014 season. He said he had to eat "lots of ice cream, burritos, pizza" and "whatever else [he] could get [his] hands on" to maintain his size.

Nick HardwickBrian Bahr/Getty Images

Nick Hardwick was a 300-pound center for the San Diego Chargers who retired after the 2014 season. He said he had to eat "lots of ice cream, burritos, pizza" and "whatever else [he] could get [his] hands on" to maintain his size.

After retiring, he lost 85 pounds in four months by reducing his calories, using intermittent fasting, and yoga.

Instagram

Source: Los Angeles Times

Matt Birk was a 310-pound center for the Vikings and Ravens who retired in 2012.

Matt BirkRob Carr/Getty Images

After retiring, Matt Birk lost 75 pounds after joining Body By ViSalus, a company dedicated to ending obesity, and Birk is now a model.

Challenge.com

SOURCE: Challenge.com

Jeff Saturday was a 295-pound center who spent most of his career with the Colts and retired after the 2012 season.

Jeff SaturdayGetty Images

Jeff Saturday, left, now weighs 238 pounds and runs a program to help former players learn about healthy lifestyles.

Darron Cummings/AP

SOURCE: ESPN.com

Longtime Patiots star Vince Wilfork was listed at 325 pounds in his playing days, but when he last suited up for the Texans in 2016, he was probably much higher than that.,

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Longtime Patiots star Vince Wilfork was listed at 325 pounds in his playing days, but when he last suited up for the Texans in 2016, he was probably much higher than that.,

But despite being a well-known lover of food and becoming a BBQ ambassador in retirement, he has clearly curbed his eating habits and appears to now weigh less than at any time in his career.

Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

But despite being a well-known lover of food and becoming a BBQ ambassador in retirement, he has clearly curbed his eating habits and appears to now weigh less than at any time in his career.

Jordan Gross was a 3-time Pro Bowler as a 300-pound offensive lineman with the Panthers.

Jordan GrossGetty Images

Just seven months after retiring following the 2013 season, Gross looked a lot closer to 200 pounds when he visited training camp.

Jordan GrossChuck Burton/AP

Former Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey was never the biggest lineman, but was still listed at over 300 pounds during his playing days.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Just two years after retiring, he now looks more like a linebacker or safety.

Instagram/maurkicepouncey

Antone Davis (No. 78) was a 330-pound offensive lineman and grew to 475 pounds after he stopped playing in 1997.

Antone DavisAP/NBC

Antone Davis was a runner-up on NBC's "The Biggest Loser," where he lost more than 200 pounds.

NBC via SportsGeekery

Damien Woody was a 320-pound offensive lineman for the Lions, Patriots, and Jets.

Damien WoodyDoug Benc/Getty Images

After seeing his weight go up to 388 pounds in retirement, Woody went on "The Biggest Loser," and lost 110 pounds.

Instagram

Nate Newton (No. 61), a 320-pound offensive lineman, played most of his 14-year career with the Cowboys before retiring in 1999 and growing to nearly 400 pounds in retirement.

NAte NewtonGetty Images

Nate Newton (No. 61), a 320-pound offensive lineman, played most of his 14-year career with the Cowboys before retiring in 1999 and growing to nearly 400 pounds in retirement.

He was able to get down to 220 pounds in 2010 after surgery to remove 75% of his stomach.

Source: Dallas Morning-NewsAP

Source: Dallas Morning-News

JaMarcus Russell struggled with his weight with the Raiders and even more before attempting to get back into the NFL.

JaMarcus RussellGetty Images/YouTube

In 2013, JaMarcus Russell lost 51 pounds hoping for another shot in the NFL.

Jamarcus RussellTest Football

SOURCE: @TEST_Football

Tom Nalen was a 290-pound center for the Denver Broncos, last playing in 2007.

Tom NalenGetty Images

A thinner Nalen was inducted into the Broncos' Ring of Fame and credited continuing to work out after his retirement for the weight loss.

Tom NalenJack Dempsey/AP

Source: TheSunChronicle.com

LenDale White weighed as much as 260 pounds as a running back for the Titans.

Lendale WhiteJamie Squire/Getty Images

Prior to his last season in the NFL, LenDale White lost 30 pounds, a result he credited to giving up tequila.

Joe Murphy/Getty Images

SOURCE: SI.com

Mark Schlereth was a 290-pound offensive lineman for Washington and Denver and last played in 2000.

Mark SchlerethAP

Mark Schlereth is now a slimmed-down commentator on Fox Sports.

Mark SchlerethGetty Images

Tony Bergstrom, an offensive lineman who has played for 5 teams in 10 years hasn't retired yet, but already has a plan for when he does.

Tony BergstromChristian Petersen/Getty Images

Bergstrom told WaPo: "I have the diet plan already written out. Offensive linemen go one of two ways: You either balloon up or you shrink to nothing. I'd rather shrink to nothing. Three months later, you'll see a whole different person. I'll come walking in and you'll be like, I don't know who that is."

Bergstrom told WaPo: I have the diet plan already written out. Offensive linemen go one of two ways: You either balloon up or you shrink to nothing. I'd rather shrink to nothing. Three months later, you'll see a whole different person. I'll come walking in and you'll be like, I don't know who that is.

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How 22 NFL players lost weight after retiring and became unrecognizable

10-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer Joe Thomas is regarded as one of the best offensive linemen ever. He spent most of his career playing at 310 pounds and said he was "more eager to lose weight than almost anything in retirement."

He is now an analyst for the NFL Network and it it took less than nine months after his final NFL game to lose 50 pounds. When asked how he did it, he chuckled and said, "You just don't eat until you feel like you're gonna throw up at every meal and all of a sudden the weight falls right off."

8-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Marshall Yanda played his final NFL game at 312 pounds, retiring after the 2019 season and 13 years in the league, all with the Baltimore Ravens.

Five months after retiring, Yanda was down to 248 pounds by working out and eating less, telling "The Pat McAfee Show," "I didn't really realize it at the time how much I was doing to keep that weight on, but obviously, it has come off really fast, and shoot, I feel so much better."

David Pollack weighed as much as 297 pounds as a defensive lineman in college, and he last played in the NFL in 2006 as a 260-pound linebacker for the Bengals.

After a career-ending injury, Pollack is now a 220-pound college football commentator for ESPN. Pollack says he just got smarter about what he eats and when he eats it.

David Carter was a 300-pound defensive lineman for the Cardinals and Cowboys.

Carter lost 40 pounds in 6 weeks after becoming a vegan and is now a model.

Brad Culpepper (No. 77) was a 275-pound defensive tackle for three different teams and retired after the 2000 season.

Here is Brad Culpepper with his wife on the show "Survivor." He says it was pretty easy to lose 80 pounds because he simply stopped eating all the extra food needed to maintain his playing weight.

Will Montgomery was a 305-pound offensive lineman with a size 42 waist who played for 5 teams in 9 seasons.

Montgomery now weighs 225 pounds — his lowest weight since high school — and has a 34-inch waist. He did it by cutting out sugars, no longer eating pasta and bread, and drinking more red wine and less beer (Montgomery is on the left).

Mike Golic played for 3 teams in 8 seasons, most famously as a defensive tackle for the dominant Eagles' defense of the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was listed at 280 pounds during his career.

Golic is now a podcast/radio host and college football commentator. He has slimmed down considerably.

Alan Faneca was a 320-pound offensive lineman for the Steelers, Jets, and Cardinals, and he last played in 2010.

Alan Faneca has lost 105 pounds since he stopped playing, and he completed his first marathon in 2014.

Nick Hardwick was a 300-pound center for the San Diego Chargers who retired after the 2014 season. He said he had to eat "lots of ice cream, burritos, pizza" and "whatever else [he] could get [his] hands on" to maintain his size.

After retiring, he lost 85 pounds in four months by reducing his calories, using intermittent fasting, and yoga.

Matt Birk was a 310-pound center for the Vikings and Ravens who retired in 2012.

After retiring, Matt Birk lost 75 pounds after joining Body By ViSalus, a company dedicated to ending obesity, and Birk is now a model.

Jeff Saturday was a 295-pound center who spent most of his career with the Colts and retired after the 2012 season.

Jeff Saturday, left, now weighs 238 pounds and runs a program to help former players learn about healthy lifestyles.

Longtime Patiots star Vince Wilfork was listed at 325 pounds in his playing days, but when he last suited up for the Texans in 2016, he was probably much higher than that.,

But despite being a well-known lover of food and becoming a BBQ ambassador in retirement, he has clearly curbed his eating habits and appears to now weigh less than at any time in his career.

Jordan Gross was a 3-time Pro Bowler as a 300-pound offensive lineman with the Panthers.

Just seven months after retiring following the 2013 season, Gross looked a lot closer to 200 pounds when he visited training camp.

Former Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey was never the biggest lineman, but was still listed at over 300 pounds during his playing days.

Just two years after retiring, he now looks more like a linebacker or safety.

Antone Davis (No. 78) was a 330-pound offensive lineman and grew to 475 pounds after he stopped playing in 1997.

Antone Davis was a runner-up on NBC's "The Biggest Loser," where he lost more than 200 pounds.

Damien Woody was a 320-pound offensive lineman for the Lions, Patriots, and Jets.

After seeing his weight go up to 388 pounds in retirement, Woody went on "The Biggest Loser," and lost 110 pounds.

Nate Newton (No. 61), a 320-pound offensive lineman, played most of his 14-year career with the Cowboys before retiring in 1999 and growing to nearly 400 pounds in retirement.

He was able to get down to 220 pounds in 2010 after surgery to remove 75% of his stomach.

JaMarcus Russell struggled with his weight with the Raiders and even more before attempting to get back into the NFL.

In 2013, JaMarcus Russell lost 51 pounds hoping for another shot in the NFL.

Tom Nalen was a 290-pound center for the Denver Broncos, last playing in 2007.

A thinner Nalen was inducted into the Broncos' Ring of Fame and credited continuing to work out after his retirement for the weight loss.

LenDale White weighed as much as 260 pounds as a running back for the Titans.

Prior to his last season in the NFL, LenDale White lost 30 pounds, a result he credited to giving up tequila.

Mark Schlereth was a 290-pound offensive lineman for Washington and Denver and last played in 2000.

Mark Schlereth is now a slimmed-down commentator on Fox Sports.

Tony Bergstrom, an offensive lineman who has played for 5 teams in 10 years hasn't retired yet, but already has a plan for when he does.