Former Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long has recruited Ryan Cook, a giant pumpkin farmer in Summers County, West Virginia, to help him break a unique Delaware River world record, reports The West Virginia Vibe.

Long, who played eleven seasons in the NFL including two with the Eagles (2016 and 2017), wants to float down the river in a pumpkin grown by Cook.

The farmer’s experience in raising huge pumpkins will be the key to the success of the effort.

“I want to see this guy take it and break a world record in it,” said Cook about one of his pumpkins.

Cook has been tasked with growing a pumpkin that would be capable of bearing Long’s weight, which currently stands at more than 250 pounds. So far, they have had three attempts, but all three pumpkins were lost along the way.

“It’s definitely not an easy thing to do,” said Cook.

Still, Cook is relishing the challenge in front of him. He believes that being a part of a world record attempt – and such an unusual one – is both exciting and will provide many great memories of him and his children for the future.

Read more about the giant pumpkin world record attempt in The West Virginia Vibe.

_________