Chris Pressley
An undrafted fullback whose raw power, including a 770-pound squat, became his ticket to a hard-nosed NFL career.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American football player·Birthday: August 8·Millennials
Biography
Chris Pressley went undrafted in 2009 after a five-year career at the University of Wisconsin, then used his physical strength to force his way into the NFL. His lower-body power, documented in viral training videos of 700-pound squat lifts, caught the attention of scouts seeking a classic, bulldozing fullback. Pressley secured a roster spot as a lead blocker, most notably with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2011 to 2013. There he cleared paths for running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who rushed for over 1,200 yards in 2012. Pressley's career spanned five seasons with three teams, never amassing gaudy statistics but embodying a fading archetype: the dedicated battering-ram fullback whose primary joy was found in the unglamorous work of creating space for others. His weight-room feats became part of NFL lore among strength coaches and teammates.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Chris was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned a starting fullback role for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012 after entering the league as an undrafted free agent.
- Recorded a maximum back squat of 770 pounds, a mark of exceptional strength even among professional athletes.
- Played in 47 NFL games across five seasons with the Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Did You Know?
He was videotaped squatting 605 pounds for nine consecutive repetitions without assistive equipment.
He played college football at Wisconsin under head coaches Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema.
His NFL career was ended by a blood clot issue discovered in 2014.
“They said I was too slow, so I became the strongest.”
