Nearly five years since he retired from the NFL, former Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey has gone viral after looking unrecognizable from the shape he was in during his playing days.
Pouncey reemerged as part of the Steelers international game against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday.
The 6-foot-4 beloved former Steeler was 305 pounds during his football career, with him being a behemoth for 18 years.
Now, Pouncey looks to have dropped at least 75 pounds, appearing to be incredibly skinny in Europe.
Pouncey looks to have taken the weight off soon after his retirement from the NFL in 2021.
Pouncey was a blue-chip recruit who attended Florida and starred for the Gators before being a first-round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Steelers.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers great Maurkice Pouncey reemerged this weekend in Ireland
Many Steelers fans didn’t know one of their favorite players had lost loads of his playing weight
Then Pouncey spent 10 seasons as the starting center for the Steelers, becoming one of the most beloved athletes in Western Pennsylvania.
Some Steelers fans knew the transformation for Pouncey before the viral video, having followed him on social media.
Other Pittsburgh sports fans had no idea and compared his looks to famous comedian Mike Epps.
A few Steelers fans may have no recognized Pouncey at all if it was not for his unique neck and arm tattoos.
Pouncey’s presence in Ireland did help the Steelers, who held off a fourth-quarter comeback from the Vikings to win 24-21.