Death of Tucker has raised worries over the heart health of big players . Researchers looked at 12 active Union Memorial Hospital players from 504 teams in 1980s . However , Tucker and his team found that the average percentage of body fat was 14 percent , ranging from 8 percent to 10 percent in the leaner positions -- such as wide receivers and linebackers -- to 20 percent in defensive linemen and 25 percent in offensive linemen . Players were less likely to smoke or have blood-sugar problems than other men . NFL athletes are more likely to have prehypertension than other men .
Death of Tucker has raised worries over the heart health of big players . Researchers looked at 12 active Union Memorial Hospital players from 504 teams in 1980s . Players were less likely to smoke or have blood-sugar problems than other men . NFL athletes are more likely to have prehypertension than other men .