Aaron Gibson facts for kids

Aaron Gibson (born September 27, 1977) is a former American football player. He played as an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played for teams like the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and Chicago Bears. Gibson is known for holding the record as the heaviest NFL player ever. In 2002, the Cowboys listed his weight at 410 pounds.

Early Life and High School Football

Aaron Gibson grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. He went to Decatur Central High School. There, he was a talented athlete in both football and track. Even in high school, he weighed over 350 pounds.

He played both offense and defense in football. In his senior year, he was chosen as a first-team All-state player. He was also named a Top 33 Pick by a local newspaper. As a defensive tackle, he was very good at recovering fumbles. He also blocked many passes.

College Football Career

Gibson earned a football scholarship to the University of Wisconsin. He did not play in his first year. This was because he did not meet certain academic requirements. The next year, he was a backup right tackle. He also played as a blocking tight end. He made his first appearance in a game against Ohio State University.

In 1997, he became the main starter at right tackle. He played for two seasons, blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne. Dayne set a record for rushing yards in college football.

In 1998, Gibson had an amazing senior year. He was named a first-team All-American by several groups. He was also a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten Conference player. He was the first player from his school to be a finalist for two major awards. These were the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy.

Professional Football Career

Before the NFL draft, experts described Gibson as a "proto-type right tackle." They noted his large body, big legs, and huge chest.

Detroit Lions Years

The Detroit Lions picked Aaron Gibson in the first round of the 1999 National Football League Draft. He was the 27th player chosen overall. He was expected to be the starting right tackle right away. However, he hurt his left shoulder in a practice camp. This injury kept him from playing his rookie season.

In 2000, he started the first 10 games at right tackle. But he then injured his right shoulder. This injury ended his season early. In 2001, he started five of the first six games. The Lions then decided to let him go in October.

Dallas Cowboys Experience

On October 31, 2001, the Dallas Cowboys picked him up. He played in only one game that season. In 2002, Gibson became the first NFL player officially listed at 400 pounds. He was limited by a knee injury during training camp. The Cowboys released him in September 2002. He holds the record for the heaviest NFL player ever. The Cowboys listed him at 410 pounds in 2002.

Chicago Bears Seasons

On November 26, 2002, the Chicago Bears signed Gibson. He joined the team to replace an injured player. In 2003, he had his best professional season. He started all sixteen games at right tackle for the Bears. This happened after another player, Marc Colombo, was injured. In 2004, he played in four games, starting three of them. This was his last season playing in a regular NFL game.

Later Career Teams

After his time in the NFL, Aaron Gibson played for several other football teams.

• In 2006, he briefly signed with the Buffalo Bills.
• In 2007, he joined the Austin Wranglers in the Arena Football League. He played in eleven games for them.
• He was later traded to the Utah Blaze in 2007.
• In 2007, he was traded again to the Dallas Desperados.
• In 2008, he played for the Cleveland Gladiators.
• His last team was the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings in 2010. He was suspended by the team and did not play after that season.