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Ranking The 19 Shortest NFL Players In History

among shortest NFL players ever, running back Darren Sproles

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Today we are counting down the 19 shortest NFL players in history.

From Mack Herron and Trindon Holliday standing at a stout 5’5″, short for any sport, to players that sniffed 5’8″, these are the mighty little guys of the NFL. But just because they’re short doesn’t mean they aren’t unbelievably strong!

Shortest Players In NFL History

There is at least one honorable mention on the list, Jack “Soupy” Shapiro, who stood at just 5’1″. He played for the Staten Island Stapletons in 1929 but not officially part of the NFL. That said, he is worth mentioning here as he often is recognized among the shortest NFL players of all-time. Now let’s get to the full list!

Mack Herron: 5’5″

shortest NFL players in history New England Patriots running back Mack Herron

At 5’5″, Mack Herron is the shortest player in NFL history. He was a STOUT 170 pounds at 5’5″, a veritable bowling ball of a man if you will.

Herron played in the CFL before three seasons with the New England Patriots (1973-75) and he finished his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons in ’75. Mack led the NFL in kickoff return yards in 1973.

Trindon Holliday: 5’5″

shortest NFL players in history Trindon Holliday

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

A 6th round NFL Draft pick in 2010, wide receiver / return specialist Trindon Holliday stood all of 5’5″, tying him for the shortest player in NFL history with Mack Herron. The former LSU Tiger played with the Texans, Broncos, Giants, Bucs, and 49ers and led the NFL in punt return yards in the 2012 season.

Darren Sproles: 5’6″

shortest NFL players in history Darren Sproles

Darren Sproles is arguably the most successful ‘short guy’ in NFL history. He was a Super Bowl LII champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, a 3x Pro Bowler, has 3,552 career rushing yards and 23 rushing TDs followed by 4,840 receiving yards and another 32 receiving TDs (9 more return TDs).

Look at this man in action:

Carson Wentz to Darren Sproles for a 73 yard touchdown! #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/v8zqhVI4x2

— 𝐃𝐈𝐄-𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 🦅 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄 (@Eaglesfans9) September 26, 2016

At 5’6″ and 190 pounds he ran like a Buick. Sproles, a member of the Eagles’ front office, has already been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Deuce Vaughn: 5’6″

shortest NFL players in history Deuce Vaughn

Deuce Vaughn, a running back with the Dallas Cowboys, stands 5’6″ and weighs 176 pounds. He was drafted in the 6th round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys and in his first season in Dallas he totaled just 110 rushing yards and 58 receiving. His dad, Chris Vaughn, is a talent scout with the Dallas Cowboys and a former college football player himself.

Jacquizz Rodgers: 5’6″

shortest NFL players in history ampa Bay Buccaneers running back Jacquizz Rodgers

As a born-and-raised Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, I loved seeing Jacquizz Rodgers produce for the Bucs when he was with our team for three seasons. A 5th round pick in 2011 out of Oregon State, Rodgers stands 5’6″ and weighs 205 pounds. The dude was THICC.

Deonte Harty: 5’6″

shortest NFL players in history Buffalo Bills wide receiver Deonte Harty

Another player at 5’6″ is Deonte Harty, a wide receiver / return specialist. He went undrafted in 2019 but landed with the New Orleans Saints for 3 seasons before moving on to the Bills and then the Ravens in 2024. He has 3,172 return yards in his NFL career, 7 total touchdowns, and 943 receiving yards.

Jakeem Grant: 5’6″

shortest NFL players in history Chicago Bears wide receiver Jakeem Grant

5’6″ tall Jakeem Grant was a 6th round NFL Draft pick in 2016 and has bounced around from the Dolphins, Bears, Browns, and now on the practice squad with the Atlanta Falcons. He is a two-time Second-team All Pro and he made the Pro Bowl in 2021, so being 5’6″ has not held this WR / punt return specialist back in his NFL career where he has earned over $16 million according to Spotrac.

Lionel ‘Little Train’ James: 5’6″

shortest NFL players in history running Back Lionel James

Lionel ‘Little Train’ James was a running back with the San Diego Chargers in the mid-80s and who had a fantastic nickname. He came out of Auburn University and at 5’6″, 171 pounds, he was an absolute beast of a runner.

Little Train led the NFL in kickoff return yards in 1984 and finished his NFL career with 4 rushing TDs and 10 receiving touchdowns.

Tarik Cohen: 5’6″

shortest NFL players in history Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Tarik Cohen has had a solid NFL career despite being one of the shortest players in NFL history. At 5’6″, 181 pounds, Tarik was drafted in the 4th round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears where he remained until 2021 before moving to the Carolina Panthers and now he is on the Jets’ practice squad.

Tarik could also get crafty and throw a TD if the timing was right, like he did here:

𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕

Tarik Cohen throws an absolute DIME to Zach Miller for a 21-yard TD pass! pic.twitter.com/is5ffxEkjf

— This Day in Chicago Sports (@ChiSportsDay) October 15, 2019

Cohen made the Pro Bowl in 2018, was also a First Team All-Pro that season, and has 15 touchdowns in his NFL career along with 1,101 rushing yards and another 1,575 receiving.

J.J. Taylor: 5’6″

shortest NFL players in history Houston Texans running back J.J. Taylor

J.J. Taylor went undrafted out of Arizona in 2020 but was picked up by the New England Patriots and was there from 2020-2022 but is now with the Houston Texans. At 5’6″, 185 pounds he is rock solid on the ground. He has averaged 3.2 yards per carry in his NFL career yet only has 2 rushing touchdowns.

Brandon Banks: 5’7″

shortest NFL players in history Washington Redskins wide receiver Brandon Banks

Former Kansas State wide receiver Brandon Banks is one of the shortest wide receivers in league history at 5’7″. He went undrafted in 2010 but landed in D.C. with Washington from 2010-2012 before going to the CFL. During his NFL era, he had 3,793 return yards as a specialist.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire: 5’7″

shortest NFL players in history Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Being 5’7″ has never held Clyde Edwards-Helaire back in his career. He started in all 13 games at LSU as a freshman, was drafted in the 1st round of the 2020 NFL Draft, is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, and now runs in the ball for the New Orleans Saints.

Was this the best catch of his career? It just might’ve been:

CLYDE EDWARDS HELAIRE WITH THE BEST CATCH OF HIS CAREER FOR THE TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/WOtLUACt5Z

— imfrommissouriandliveinmassnowstfu (@BostonSportsAcc) December 17, 2023

Clyde has 12 rushing TDs and 7 receiving. He also received an award for shielding a teenager from gunfire during a public shooting at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII parade.

Andrew Hawkins: 5’7″

shortest NFL players in history Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins

All 5’7″ and 180 pounds of Andrew Hawkins racked up career 2,419 receiving yards on 209 receptions, making him one of the shortest productive receivers in NFL history. He started his pro career in the CFL, was a two-time Grey Cup champion, before moving to the NFL with stints in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and finally the Patriots.

Maurice Jones-Drew: 5’7″

shortest NFL players in history Maurice Jones-Drew running back

Maurice Jones-Drew is the only athlete on this list that I have personally interviewed in the past. For the life of me, I don’t remember what we talked about but I do remember him telling me his favorite flavor of Gatorade is Blue and that he’s a blue man.

At 5’7″, 201 pounds, MJD was an unstoppable force on the ground for the Jacksonville Jaguars during the peak of his career. He was a two-time First-team All-Pro, 3x Pro Bowler, and led the NFL in rushing yards in 2011. All while ranking as one of the shortest players in NFL history.

Devin Singletary: 5’7″

shortest NFL players in history Devin Singletary

Another absolute boulder of a man is New York Giants running back Devin Singletary who at 5’7″, 203 pounds runs into defenses like a Mac truck. He was a 3rd round 2019 NFL Draft pick out of FAU and has racked up 4,483 career rushing yards, 24 rushing TDs, 1,283 receiving yards, and 4 receiving touchdowns.

Rondale Moore: 5’7″

shortest players in NFL history receiver rondale moore

Taken 49th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Purdue, Rondale Moore stands at 5’7″ and tips the scales at 181 pounds. He is currently a wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings but has previously been on the Cardinals and Falcons rosters. During his time in the league, the 5’7″ wide receiver has hauled in 3 receiving touchdowns and 1,170 yards on 131 receptions.

Mark McMillian: 5’7″

Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Mark McMillian shortest NFL players in history

Going back to the 1990s before these shorter players were common was Mark McMillian, who might have been the shortest cornerback in league history at 5’7″. He was drafted in the 10th round in the 1992 NFL Draft out of the University of Alabama and would remain in the NFL until 1999, with stints in Philly, New Orleans, Kansas City, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. He finished his career with 409 tackles and 23 interceptions. Impressive stuff for a 5’7″ cornerback!

Dexter McCluster: 5’8″

Kansas City Chiefs running back Dexter McCluster

Former Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster was a 2nd Round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2010 NFL Draft. He went from the Chiefs (2010-2013) to the Titans, Chargers, and then off to the Argonauts in the CFL.

Ray Rice: 5’8″

Baltimore Ravens running Back Ray Rice among shortest NFL players in history

At 5’8″, 208 pounds, Ray Rice remains one of the shortest running backs in league history. 5’8″ seems like stretch though… But we will choose to believe the numbers. I once met him at a night club in Puerto Rico during a bachelor party back when he was still in the league and he snatched my buddy’s phone so they could take a picture together.

He spent his entire NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens, 2008-2013, winning Super Bowl XLVII, racking up 6,180 career rushing yards and 37 rushing TDs, and another 3,034 receiving yards along the way with 6 receiving TDs.

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