Ranked: The greatest out-of-shape athletes of all time

In a world where sports science and less body fat are prominent in elite-level sports, some athletes have dominated their field despite having a few extra pounds on their waistlines.

New Los Angeles Lakers acquisition Luka Doncic was reportedly traded away from the Dallas Mavericks for his weight problems, with ESPN reporting he weighed nearly 260 lbs in the 2024 off-season. Despite that, Doncic's weight problems have never shown on the court, averaging 28.6 points for his career and earning five First-Team All-NBA selections in six full seasons.

Nicknamed 'Big Sexy,' Bartolo Colon weighed 285 lbs for much of his 21-year MLB career, showing that weight won't stop a player from having a long and successful career in elite-level sport. He is a four-time All-Star and the oldest player to hit his first career home run, at 42 years and 349 days old in 2016, like a fine wine.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Former NFL defensive lineman Dontari Poe is the largest player in NFL history to rush or pass for a touchdown after the Kansas City Chiefs used him as an offensive player at the 1-yard line in 2015, weighing in at 346 pounds. He also recorded a 40-yard dash in under five seconds.

Weighing in 325 lbs during his NFL career, Vince Wilfork anchored the New England Patriots defensive line for over a decade, joining Tom Brady as the Patriots to win a Super Bowl in both decades of the Patriots dynasty (2004 and 2014). He is a five-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro.

John Daly is one of the biggest and most unapologetic players in PGA Tour history. He is notorious for his drinking and smoking habits. Although he weighed over 250 pounds for much of his career, he still won the 1991 PGA Championship and the 1995 British Open.

The name William 'The Refrigerator' Perry says all you need to know about one of the most famous defensive tackles in NFL history. Perry weighed nearly 350 pounds in his ten-year NFL career and won the 1985 Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears. At 335 pounds, he is the heaviest player to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

NBA legend Charles Barkley had weight problems right out of the gate in the NBA, weighing in at nearly 300 pounds at his rookie training camp with the Philadelphia 76ers. After joining Moses Malone's workout routine, Barkley dropped to 250 and became one of the best and most aggressive athletes in the NBA. He was an 11-time All-Star and the 1993 MVP.

After a slow start to his MLB career, Cecil Fielder had a breakthrough year in 1990, hitting 51 home runs and 132 RBI while weighing 280 pounds. Fielder was a Detroit Tigers legend, winning the 1996 World Series, becoming a three-time All-Star, and hitting 319 career home runs.

At nearly 250 pounds during his career, David Ortiz is the definition of a heavy hitter in baseball, striking 514 home runs in 19 years. He won three World Series titles, including the Boston Red Sox's incredible comeback victory over the Yankees in 2004, the 2013 World Series MVP, and a 10-time All-Star.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

If anyone tells you that a pitcher can't be overweight and thriving in the MLB, look at David Wells. The three-time All-Star was nearly 300 pounds on the diamond, but he still pitched the 15th perfect game in baseball history for the New York Yankees in 1998. He played 20 years and won two World Series titles.

After fighting Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in the 1970s, George Foreman retired and returned to boxing in 1987. After ten years of no training, Frazier returned to the ring out-of-shape and pushing 40 years old. In 1994, he became the oldest world heavyweight boxing champion, defeating Michael Moorer at 45.

'Shaq' was an unstoppable force during his time in the NBA, winning four NBA titles, three Finals MVPs, and 15 All-Star selections. O'Neal was famous for coming into the season out-of-shape, regularly playing at over 300 pounds. The Hall of Famer didn't know how to keep the weight off, and in his spells with Boston, Cleveland, and Phoenix, he probably spent more time in the cafeteria.

Brazilian icon Ronaldo Nazario was one of the most electrifying players in the early part of his career. He won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and scored countless goals for Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid. Towards the tail end, Ronaldo's weight became a problem, especially during his time at AC Milan. He earned the nickname 'Fat Ronaldo' and admitted he retired because of his weight trouble in 2011.

Diego Maradona is celebrated as one of the greatest footballers ever. He created magical moments and lifted the 1986 World Cup with Argentina. Despite his brilliance, Maradona had drug and weight problems throughout his illustrious career. In 2005, he had gastric bypass surgery that helped him lose a lot of weight. He passed away in 2020.

Despite his overweighting physique, Babe Ruth is the undeniable GOAT of baseball. 'The Babe' used his weight to his advantage, hitting 714 home runs and winning seven World Series championships. Due to his partying ways, the pounds crept on at the tail end of his career, but that didn't stop him from knocking the ball out of the park.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!