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Height may be an important factor in football, yet it does not matter equally among different player positions. It can be an advantage for defensive linemen as great heights give them the ability to tackle passes with their outstretched arms.
However, height is not a decisive factor for quarterbacks. It requires quarterbacks a ton of different traits to become successful in the NFL – Accuracy, arm strength, athleticism, off-platform ability, decision-making, pocket presence, etc.
Therefore, you’ll be surprised to know the shortest passer in the NFL of all time.
Key Takeaways
- Eddie LeBaron was renowned as the shortest player in the NFL of all time. LeBaron was an American football quarterback for the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys. He did not let height get in the way of achieving 4 pro bowls and NFL Rookie of the Year with a height of 5’7”.
- The shortest quarterback in the NFL at the moment is Kyler Murray with a height of 5’10”. In the 2019 NFL draft, he was taken as the first overall pick making him a newbie quarterback.
- Before Murray, the shortest quarterback was Russel Wilson with a height of 5’11”.
Kyler Murray’s Background
Kyler Cole Murray, born on the 7th of August 1997, is an American football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. He played college football at the Texas A&M Aggies and Oklahoma Sooners.
Aside from that, he played as an outfielder for the Oklahoma Sooners baseball team as well. In 2014, Murray won the Gatorade Football Player of the Year award as a senior in high school, and for his 2018 season, the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien Award, and Heisman Trophy awards with Oklahoma adding to his numerous awards. [1]
Read more: HOW FAST IS KYLER MURRAY IN THE 40-YARD DASH?
In the 2019 NFL Draft, he was drafted first overall by the Cardinals. Not just that, but in the 2018 MLB draft, he was chosen ninth overall by the Oakland Athletics.[2] This shows that he’s the only player to ever be drafted in the first rounds of both sports.
Some of The Shortest NFL Players Next to Kyler Murray
If you want to know who are the shortest NFL players next to Kyler Murray, below is a list to cover that together with a few pieces of information about them.
#1 Russell Wilson, 1.8 meters or 5 feet 11 inches
Russell Carrington Wilson, born on the 29th of November 1988, is an American football quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks. In the 2012 NFL Draft, he was selected by the Seahawks with the 12th pick in the third round (75th overall). On the 15th of April 2019, Wilson signed a four-year contract extension worth $140 million with the Seahawks, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL at that time.
#2 Drew Brees, 1.83 meters or 6 feet
Drew Christopher Brees, born on the 15th of January 1979, is an American football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. He had a successful college football career at Purdue University and earned the title of one of the most decorated players in Purdue and Big Ten Conference history. In the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft, Brees got picked by the San Diego Chargers as the first pick.
#3 Johnny Manziel, 1.83 meters or 6 feet
Johnathan Paul Manziel, born on the 6th of December 1992, is a former American football quarterback. In the 2014 NFL Draft, Manziel was drafted by the Cleveland Browns as the 22nd overall pick. He previously played two seasons with the said team of the National Football League (NFL) and used to be a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2018 as well. In addition, he recently played for the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football (AAF).
#4 Tyrod Taylor, 1.85 meters or 6 feet 1 inch
Tyrod Diallo Taylor, born on the 3rd of August 1989, is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers. His college football was a success, playing for Virginia Tech. He led the Hokies to the 2009 Orange Bowl as a Sophomore and the 2011 Orange Bowl during his senior year. In the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft, he was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.
#5 Aaron Rodgers, 1.88 meters or 6 feet 2 inches
Aaron Charles Rodgers, born on the 2nd of December 1983, is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at California, where he achieved several career passing records, including the lowest single-season and career interception rates. In the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, he was selected by the Packers.
#6 Brian Hoyer, 1.88 meters or 6 feet 2 inches
Brian Axel Hoyer, born on the 13th of October 1985, is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots. He played college football at Michigan State and in 2009, he was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent. A journeyman quarterback, Hoyer has played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Indianapolis Colts as well.
Next, check out our list of the youngest quarterbacks to win a Superbowl and the oldest active NFL players.
Final Words
In conclusion, even the shortest quarterbacks can compete against NFL players of all sizes. They can still achieve the greatest success no matter what height they stand in. What do you think about this? Do you think a quarterback’s height determines how good of a player he is? Let us know what you think!
If you enjoyed reading this article, you might as well like to find out if a player’s hand size matters in making a name in this sport.
Resources:
[1] “Arizona Cardinals – News, Scores, Stats, Schedule | NFL.com.” https://www.nfl.com/teams/arizona-cardinals/. Accessed 8 Jul. 2020.
[2] “Official Oakland Athletics Website | MLB.com.” 8 Jul. 2020, https://www.mlb.com/athletics. Accessed 8 Jul. 2020.
