Gregor Clegane from Game of Thrones nearly became an NFL player last year

Could you imagine running into a man known as ‘The Mountain that rides’ on a football pitch? NFL players everywhere should be thankful he stuck to the acting.

If you’re a Game of Thrones fan and you caught last night’s episode – don’t worry, there will be no spoilers here – you will have seen the monstrous Gregor Clegane in all his topless, muscular glory up close. Clegane is played in the HBO series by Iceland native Hafthor Bjornsson, who stands at 6’9”, weighs in at around 30 stone and is perfect for the role of a man who tends to deal with his enemies (and even his brother) in incredibly violent fashion and shows precious little remorse afterwards. At that height and weight, he might struggle to get around the field but according to The Bleacher Report, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay expressed an interest in signing a man he referred to as ‘The Icelander’ this time last year in what would have been a pretty dramatic move away from the weightlifting and strongman competitions he had been accustomed to after injuries put paid to what could have been a pretty productive basketball career.

Off/Def Lineman,so many 6-3 to 6-7..320-365 lbs/Big,Physical and Nasty! Speaking of size/strength..GM Grig's just might sign "The Icelander" — Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) May 13, 2013

  Bjornsson’s move to the NFL never came to pass, of course, but could you imagine what it would have been like for an opponent to even look at somebody as fearsome as this, never mind be on the end of a crunching tackle… Cripes.