The internet loves a good meme, especially when it intersects with the world of sports. Before the 2018 NFL Draft, the podcast Pardon My Take ignited a humorous spark with a simple yet pointed t-shirt: “Josh Allen is Tall.”
“Josh Allen is Tall” T-Shirt
But beyond the catchy slogan, what’s the real story? And just how tall is Josh Allen? Let’s dive into the joke, the reality, and why this seemingly trivial statement became so popular.
First and foremost, let’s address the height question directly: Josh Allen is officially listed as 6 feet 5 inches tall. This measurement is a significant factor in the world of professional football, particularly for a quarterback. Standing at 6’5″, Allen definitely towers over a large portion of the population and even many of his NFL peers.
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Now, back to the “Josh Allen is Tall” phenomenon. The shirt, created by Pardon My Take hosts PFTCommenter and Big Cat, wasn’t just stating the obvious. It was a piece of satire aimed at the often-superficial analysis surrounding NFL draft prospects. Quarterbacks, especially, are scrutinized intensely, and certain physical attributes, like height and arm strength, are often overemphasized.
The humor lies in the exaggeration and the implication that “Josh Allen is Tall” is a sufficient scouting report. It mocks the tendency of some draft analysts to focus on easily observable traits while overlooking more critical aspects of a quarterback’s game, such as accuracy, decision-making, and consistency.
Josh Allen, coming out of the University of Wyoming, possessed the prototypical quarterback build. He was tall, had a strong arm, and demonstrated mobility. He looked the part. However, his college statistics, particularly his completion percentage, raised concerns. Despite these statistical red flags, many analysts were captivated by his physical tools.
The “Josh Allen is Tall” shirt cleverly encapsulates this dynamic. It suggests that in the eyes of some, Allen’s height alone was a primary selling point, overshadowing legitimate questions about his on-field performance. This is further highlighted by the comparison to quarterbacks like Christian Hackenberg, who, despite lacking college success, was drafted high based on his physical attributes and “quarterback look.” Hackenberg’s NFL career never materialized, serving as a cautionary tale about prioritizing physical traits over proven skills.
The podcast Pardon My Take is known for its satirical and irreverent approach to sports commentary. The “Josh Allen is Tall” shirt perfectly embodies their brand of humor. It’s a concise and effective way to critique the sometimes-shallow nature of sports media analysis, particularly in the lead-up to the NFL Draft. By reducing the draft evaluation to a single, obvious physical characteristic, they highlight the absurdity of oversimplifying complex player analysis.
In conclusion, while it’s undeniably true that Josh Allen is tall – a significant 6’5″ – the “Josh Allen is Tall” meme and t-shirt serve as a humorous reminder to look beyond surface-level attributes when evaluating athletes. It’s a satirical jab at the sports media landscape and a clever commentary on the NFL draft hype machine, all wrapped up in a simple, four-word slogan.
