Philadelphia Eagles O-line Strip Down in ESPN's Body Issue to Destigmatize Bodies

NFL players bared it all to destigmatize “O-line” bodies.
 
The offensive linemen of the Philadelphia Eagles posed for ESPN’s 2019 Body Issue. Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks, Jason Kelce, Isaac Seumalo, and Halapoulivaati Vaitai stripped down to show that athleticism comes in all shapes and sizes.
 
“There’s a whole stigma behind the O-line body—I think, as you can see, some of these guys are pretty well-built, strong guys,” Johnson explained. “And I just wanted to put that out there and see how it settles.”
 
Together, the players average approximately 313 lbs.
 
“It’s pretty cool being an offensive lineman,” Kelce said. “Obviously, you’re a little bit different than most athletes. So obviously, our body types are gonna be drastically different.”
 
The size of linemen in the NFL as continued to rise over the years. A specialist at the Living Heart Foundation said a career of bulking up could lead to a life of health concerns like hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and sleep apnea.
 
The Eagles say their strength is a tool to support their team, but when the time comes to hang up their helmets, they acknowledge the lifestyle changes they’ll face.
 
“I’d probably lose 50 pounds and maybe go on a two-miles run or something, just something I haven’t done in the past 10 years,” Johnson said.