Average Height of NFL Safeties (2024)

In the NFL, the physical attributes of players are as crucial as their skill sets. Among the positions that embody a unique blend of physicality and finesse, safeties stand tall – quite literally.

As the guardians of the defensive backfield, their height can be a game-changer, impacting their ability to intercept passes, tackle receivers, and dominate the aerial aspects of the game.

But what is the average height of an NFL safety in this season?

For this deep dive, I examined the heights and weights of almost 150 safeties on opening-day rosters for the 2023 season. Whether you’re a stats geek or someone who just loves the game, this article will answer every question you may have about safeties’ height.

NFL S Avg Height

The average height of an NFL Safety in 2023 is 6’0 1/4″.

However, averages don’t often tell the whole story. For instance, there is a huge gap between the shortest and tallest safeties. I wanted to take a closer look.

So, to give you an even better idea of how NFL Safeties stack up, I tallied up how many players are at each specific height – from 5’8″ all the way to 6’4″.

Safety Height Scale

Height	Number of Players
5’8″	1
5’9″	6
5’10”	15
5’11”	29
6’0″	35
6’1″	35
6’2″	14
6’3″	6
6’4″	6

This table provides some interesting insight into the safety position.

In this instance, the average height is a very good representation of safety heights across the league. The majority of players (67%) are clustered right around the average from 5’11” to 6’1″.

Which NFL Safeties are the Tallest?

Curious to know who the guys are at the bottom of the table above? Thought you might.

Here are the 12 tallest safeties in the NFL this season, all measuring 6’3″ or taller:

Name	Height	Team
Isaiah Simmons	6’4″	New York Giants
Jayron Kearse	6’4″	Dallas Cowboys
JL Skinner	6’4″	Denver Broncos
Kyle Hamilton	6’4″	Baltimore Ravens
Israel Mukuamu	6’4″	Dallas Cowboys
Isaiah Pola-Mao	6’4″	Las Vegas Raiders
Jeremy Chinn	6’3″	Carolina Panthers
Ameer Speed	6’3″	New England Patriots
Ifeatu Melifonwu	6’3″	Detroit Lions
Sam Franklin Jr	6’3″	Carolina Panthers
Grant Delpit	6’3″	Cleveland Browns
Ryan Neal	6’3″	Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Which NFL Safeties are the Shortest?

Just as interesting (or maybe even more so) as which guys are the tallest is which players are actually the shortest.

The 7 shortest safeties in the NFL are all 5’9″ or shorter.

Name	Height	Team
Ar’Darius Washington	5’8″	Baltimore Ravens
Tyrann Mathieu	5’9″	New Orleans Saints
Bobby McCain	5’9″	New York Giants
Jerrick Reed II	5’9″	Seattle Seahawks
Quandre Diggs	5’9″	Seattle Seahawks
Ugo Amadi	5’9″	New Orleans Saints
Antoine Winfield Jr	5’9″	Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Conclusion

The average height of NFL safeties this season isn’t just a number; it’s a crucial aspect of their role on the field. Height impacts their ability to intercept passes, tackle effectively, and control the aerial game.

For fans and analysts, this information adds depth to understanding the game, highlighting how physical attributes influence team tactics and individual player effectiveness.

As the game evolves, so does the importance of a safety’s height in shaping their role and impact in the NFL.