You’ve seen the behemoths. The 340-pound tackles who look like they belong in a superhero movie and the 6-foot-6 quarterbacks who can see over a literal wall of humanity. But then, every once in a while, you see a blur of a person darting between a defender’s legs. Someone who looks like they’re playing a different game entirely.
People always ask me, "Who is the shortest NFL player?" and usually they expect a name from a 1920s trivia book or maybe a kicker they vaguely remember from the 90s.
The truth? It’s complicated. If we’re talking about the history of the league, we’re looking at a man who was barely over five feet tall. If we’re talking about the guys suiting up this Sunday, the answer shifts to a dynamic running back in Dallas who basically looks like a "Micro Machine" on the field.
The All-Time Short King: Jack "Soupy" Shapiro
Let’s get the history out of the way first because this is a wild story. The shortest NFL player in the history of the game was a guy named Jack Shapiro. He stood exactly 5 feet 1 inch tall.
Can you even imagine that?
It was 1929. Shapiro played for the Staten Island Stapletons. He didn't just stand on the sidelines, either; he actually got into a game against the Minneapolis Red Jackets. He rushed for seven yards and returned a punt for 12. Honestly, in an era where guys were getting their teeth knocked out without facemasks, a 119-pound man taking a handoff is basically the bravest thing I’ve ever heard of.
Shapiro had to forge his father’s signature just to play football in high school because his dad thought he’d get killed. He didn't. He lived to be 93 years old.
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Who is the Shortest NFL Player Right Now?
Fast forward to the 2025-2026 season. We don't have many 5-foot-1 guys anymore. The scouting combines and modern nutrition have made the league a land of giants, but Deuce Vaughn is the current exception that proves the rule.
Vaughn, a running back for the Dallas Cowboys, is officially listed at 5 feet 5 inches.
Watching him play is a trip. He’s so short that he literally disappears behind his offensive linemen. Defenders can’t see him until he’s already three yards past the line of scrimmage. It’s a legitimate tactical advantage. When the Cowboys drafted him in 2023, it wasn’t a charity move—the kid was a First-Team All-American at Kansas State. He’s pure electricity.
The 5'5" Club
Vaughn isn't the only one who has lived at this height. Over the last decade or two, a few names have popped up that fans still talk about:
- Trindon Holliday: Also 5'5". He was a return specialist for the Broncos and Texans. If he got a sliver of space, he was gone. You couldn't catch him because you couldn't find a way to grab him.
- J.J. Taylor: Currently with the Houston Texans, Taylor is often listed at 5'6" but has been measured closer to 5'5" at various points. He’s built like a bowling ball.
- Mack Herron: Back in the 70s, "The Mini-Mack" stood 5'5" and was a superstar for the New England Patriots, leading the league in all-purpose yards in 1974.
Why Height is Actually a Weapon
Most people think being short is a massive disadvantage in the NFL. In many ways, yeah, it is. You have a shorter wingspan for blocking and you can't see over the "trees" in the pocket.
But there’s a reason players like Darren Sproles (5'6") had careers that lasted 15 years while many 6-footers washed out in three.
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It’s about the center of gravity.
A 5'6" running back is incredibly hard to tackle because their "hit zone" is so small. If you're a 6'3" linebacker, you have to bend your entire body just to get a hand on a guy like Sproles or Vaughn. By the time you’ve lowered your level, they’ve already cut three times and left you grasping at air.
Sproles, for example, ended his career with the 5th most all-purpose yards in NFL history. He wasn't great despite being short; he was great because he was short and utilized that low leverage to bowl over defenders twice his size.
The Shortest Quarterbacks: The New Normal?
We can't talk about height without mentioning the guys under center. For decades, if you were under 6'2", scouts wouldn't even look at you.
Then came Drew Brees (6'0"). Then Russell Wilson (5'11").
Now? We have Kyler Murray and Bryce Young, both of whom are officially listed at 5 feet 10 inches.
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Kyler Murray is probably the most "vertically challenged" successful QB we’ve seen in the modern era who can still launch a 60-yard bomb. He uses his height to his advantage by sliding in the pocket and finding unique throwing lanes that taller, stiffer QBs can't access.
Lessons from the "Little Giants"
What can we actually learn from these guys? It’s not just "believe in yourself." It’s more technical than that.
If you’re an undersized athlete—or even if you’re just working in a field where you feel outmatched—look at how Deuce Vaughn or Darren Sproles survived. They didn't try to play like the big guys. They leaned into what made them different.
- Exploit your leverage: Low center of gravity wins in physics and in the trenches.
- Master the "Unseen" skills: Short players are almost always the best at pass protection technique or catching the ball out of the backfield. They have to be.
- Speed is the great equalizer: You can be 5'5" if you run a 4.3-second 40-yard dash.
The next time you're watching a game and you see a tiny jersey number weaving through a crowd of 300-pounders, remember Jack Shapiro. He paved the way for the "short kings" of the modern NFL to prove that while you can't coach height, you definitely can't coach heart.
Next Steps for You:
Check out the current NFL rosters and look for the "scatback" or "return specialist" roles. These are almost always where the shortest players reside. If you want to see the "low center of gravity" theory in action, go find some highlights of Darren Sproles against the Giants—it’s a masterclass in how to use a small frame to dominate a big man's game.