Aaron Gibson
Aaron Gibson is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin. Gibson holds the record for heaviest NFL player ever. He was listed at 410 lbs by the Cowboys in 2002.
Early life
Gibson attended Decatur Central High School, where he lettered in football and track. He weighed over 350 lbs in high school.He was a two-way player. As a senior, he was a first-team All-state selection and was named as a Top 33 Pick by the Bloomington Herald-Times. As a defensive tackle, he had 8 fumble recoveries and 11 passes defensed.
College career
Gibson accepted a football scholarship from the University of Wisconsin. He didn't play in his freshman year because of failing to meet the requirements of Proposition 48. The next year, he was a reserve right tackle behind All-American Jerry Wunsch and was used primarily as a blocking tight end, after making his debut in the fifth game against Ohio State University.As a junior in 1997, he became the starter at right tackle. He spent two seasons blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, who set the NCAA Division I career rushing
record in 1999.
As a senior in 1998, Gibson was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, after having been named to the first-teams of the Football Writers Association, American Football Coaches Association, and the Football News and the Walter Camp Foundation. He was also a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection. He was the first player in school history to be named a finalist for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy awards.
Professional career
Pre-draft
In the 1999 NFL Scouting Combine, Gibson ran the 40-yard dash in 5.3 seconds. He was described as "a proto-type right tackle in the NFL," for having "a huge body with big legs and a gigantic chest".Detroit Lions
Gibson was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 27th overall pick in the 1999 National Football League Draft. He was expected to be the starting right tackle as a rookie, but suffered a left shoulder injury in an April post-draft minicamp and was placed on the injured reserve list.The following season, he started the first 10 games at right tackle, until suffering a right shoulder injury and being placed on the injured reserve list on December 4. In 2001, he started five of the first six games of the season, before being waived on October 30.