Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia Aims to Join Exclusive Group of Shortest NFL QBs

Pavia measured at just under 6 feet at the Senior Bowl, putting him in rare company among the league's vertically challenged signal-callers.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 8:47am

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Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia will hope to hear his name called at the 2026 NFL Draft, but his potential entrance into the league would also come with admission into an exclusive club of the shortest quarterbacks in NFL history. Pavia was officially listed at 6-0 in college, but recent measurements put him at just under 5-10, which would make him one of the shortest players ever to play the position in the NFL.

Why it matters

Height is still considered a key factor for teams looking to draft a quarterback, as being on the shorter side can make it challenging to see over the offensive line and make certain throws. However, a handful of sub-6-foot QBs have managed to carve out successful NFL careers, proving that talent and skill can overcome physical limitations.

The details

The shortest quarterback in NFL history is Pard Pearce, who stood at 5-5 and played for the Decatur Staleys (now the Chicago Bears) from 1920-1922. Davey O'Brien, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1938, is the smallest player ever to receive that honor at 5-7. The honor of being the shortest quarterback to actually play in the NFL is often attributed to Eddie LaBaron, who was listed at 5-9 and played 11 seasons with Washington and the Dallas Cowboys from 1952-1963.

  • Pavia will hope to hear his name called at the 2026 NFL Draft in April.

The players

Diego Pavia

A quarterback who starred at Vanderbilt and is aiming to be drafted into the NFL, despite measuring just under 6 feet tall at the Senior Bowl.

Pard Pearce

The shortest quarterback in NFL history, standing at 5-5 and playing for the Decatur Staleys (now the Chicago Bears) from 1920-1922.

Davey O'Brien

The smallest player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, standing at 5-7 and playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1939-1940.

Eddie LaBaron

Often considered the shortest quarterback to actually play in the NFL, listed at 5-9 and playing 11 seasons with Washington and the Dallas Cowboys from 1952-1963.

Doug Flutie

One of only four quarterbacks to play in the NFL while standing 5-10, the others being Joe Hamilton, Kyler Murray, and Bryce Young.

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What’s next

Pavia will hope to impress scouts at the 2026 NFL Combine in the lead-up to the draft, as teams evaluate whether his talent and skill can overcome his relatively short stature for the quarterback position.

The takeaway

While height is still considered important for NFL quarterbacks, a handful of sub-6-foot signal-callers have proven that talent and ability can overcome physical limitations. Pavia's quest to join this exclusive club highlights the league's evolving views on what it takes to succeed at the game's most important position.