Football players are required to wear several pieces of equipment that can add to the overall weight and affect the performance of the player.
Some of the equipment can be clunky and heavy, while some of it is form fitting and light.
Not all football gear is the same size as everyone is different requiring a specific size to fit properly.
As all sporting equipment evolves and gets better, so does the weight of it.
Here are some examples of the average weight of football gear.
Football helmet weight
The average weight of a football helmet is between 4 – 6 pounds.
A football helmet is a protective gear for the head. It has two parts, the hard outer shell and an impact absorbing inner foam liner.
The helmet’s hard outer shell protects against injury from impacts with other players as well as objects such as sticks or rocks on the ground.
The inside of the helmet also should be padded to reduce any further injuries in case of an accident when your head hits something like another player’s knee or elbow, which may cause a concussion, broken nose, lacerations around your face, or eye socket fracture among others.
Football jersey weight
A football jersey is part of the main uniform worn by players and usually, each team will have a different color and markings jersey for home and away games.
Each player on the team will wear the same jersey with the only real difference being the size and weight.
Football jerseys are generally lightweight and are around 1 pound depending on the size and material.
Football shoulder pads weight
Football shoulder pad weight will vary between 3 – 6 pounds.
Football shoulder pads are a crucial piece of equipment to wear on the field. They offer protection for your shoulders and chest from being hit by other players or falling down.
There are three types of football shoulder pads:
- Flap style shoulder pad
- Wrap around style shoulder pad
- Hybrid style shoulder pad
Depending on the position the player plays, the weight and size of shoulder pads used can be different.
For example, a lineman may use shoulder pads that weigh 6 pounds where a wide receiver may use shoulder pads that only weigh 3 pounds.
Football pants weight
The weight of the actual football pants is around 1 pound. The foam padding that is in the pants makes up for the rest of the weight which can total 3 – 5 pounds.
Football cleats weight
Football cleats are a type of shoe that players wear on the field. They provide traction for quick turns and moves, as well as protecting your feet from injuries.
Football cleats are not as heavy as other equipment and depending on the manufacturer and design, they can weigh anywhere from 6 – 10 ounces.
There are different types of football shoes depending on what position you play, and each has its own specific purpose.
How much do football players weigh?
According to webpages.uidaho.edu, the average weight of an NFL football player is 245.86 pounds.
Defensive backs and wide receivers generally weigh the least with offensive linemen weighing the most.
Chart showing average weight of NFL football players
Depending on the player, football equipment can add over 15 or 20 pounds to the actual body weight.
How much does an NFL football weigh?
A regulation sized NFL football weighs 16 ounces.