According to PFF, six offensive linemen were used on 7 percent of all plays in the NFL in 2025 (1 of every 14).
According to research done by the author using Pro-Football-Reference and NFLgsis.com, the team that used six offensive linemen the most in 2025 was the Houston Texans. They used six OL on 201 plays. The Denver Broncos used six on 97 plays.
The Broncos used 6OL 97 times in 2025, they are on track for significantly less than that, 58, this year. pic.twitter.com/5eYRE128cj
— Joe Mahoney (@ndjomo76) October 13, 2026
Only two teams did not use six OL guys at all in 2025: the Rams and the 49ers. Those two teams finished 6th and 30th in rushing last season (by yards per carry, YPC). The Ravens led the NFL in YPC last season at 5.3, and they hardly used six OL at all (10 plays).
Those 17 plays have been 13 runs and 4 passes. Two of the four passes were completed (for 0 and 9 yards). The run plays have gained 24 yards, or 1.9 yards per carry. The runs have been for a TD, and two
The sixth offensive lineman and the Denver Broncos
The run/pass split for the plays last season with 6 OL was 73 runs and 24 passes. The 73 runs gained 224 yards (3.07 YPC), and the 24 passes gained 86 yards. So the plays with 6 OL were much more successful last season than they have been so far this season. When Ben Powers was injured, Frank Crum and Matt Peart were used as the sixth OL. When Powers was starting, Palczewski was the sixth.
One memorable 6th OL play from last season was the TD catch by Frank Crum in the playoffs against the Bills.
When a team uses six offensive linemen, the sixth guy has to report as eligible since he is wearing an ineligible number. This effectively makes him a tight end for the play. Teams with really good blocking tight ends do not need to use six offensive linemen.
Some teams, like the Steelers, have tight ends that are about the same size as an offensive lineman. Darnell Washington is only listed at 267 pounds, but he is much heavier than that (reportedly 300 to 320 lbs). The Broncos' tight ends are all in the 250-pound range. Heavy NFL tight ends tend to be in the 270 range. Former Bronco Marcedes Lewis, Mo Alie-Cox, and Trevon Wesco are all roughly 270. Frank Crum is listed at 307.
The lightest NFL offensive linemen are in the 280-290 range. Dylan Cook is listed at 305, but he was 280 at the combine. Dylan Parham was 285 at the combine, but he is listed at 311. Alaric Jackson was 285 at the combine, but he has now added 50 lbs of muscle and is listed at 338 by Pro-Football-Reference.com. The Broncos have one of the lightest offensive lines in the NFL since they had the second lightest in 2025, and all of those guys are back as starters this year. Quinn Meinerz is listed as the heaviest Broncos OL at 320 pounds on the team website.
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