The Biggest Loser Season 16 Premiere, Latest News: 20 Former Athletes To Try Regaining Their “Glory Days” Weight

By Kara Michelle Aug 22, 2014 08:55 AM EDT

The Biggest Loser Season 16 Premiere, Latest News: 20 Former Athletes To Try Regaining Their "Glory Days" Weight

The Biggest Loser Season 16 premieres September 11 at its regular 8:00 PM time slot, as NBC proclaims: "The Biggest Loser: Glory Days kicks off with 20 former athletes, including NFL players and Olympic gold medalists!"

The contestants are: Jordan Alicandro (32 weighing 323 lbs.), Rondalee Beardslee (28 weighing 280 lbs.), Blake Benge (18 weighing 251 lbs), Howard "Woody" Carter (46 weighing 398 lbs.), Toma Dobrosavljevic (33 weighing 336 lbs.), Zina Garrison (50 weighing 263 lbs.), Rob Guiry (26, weighing 483 lbs.), Gina Haddon (41 weighing 242 lbs.), Vanessa Johnson (32 weighing 336 lbs.), Sonya Jones (39 weighing 283 lbs.), Chandra Maple (26 weighing 341 lbs.), Matthew Miller (31 weighing 386 lbs.), Scott Mitchell (46 weighing 366 lbs.), Emmy Lou Munoz (32 weighing 260 lbs.), Mike Murburg (58 weighing 399 lbs.) John "JJ" O'Malley (22 weighing 392 lbs.), and Jackie Pierson (36 weighing 291 lbs.), plus former NFL players Damien Woody (36 weighing 338 lbs.) and Scott Mitchell, Wimbledon finalist Zina Garrison, and 3-time Olympic softball gold medalist Lori Harrigan-Mack (44 weighing 301 lbs.).

NBC has entitled Season 16 as "Glory Days" because the competitors are all former athletes, and they'll be working off the excess weights they've put on following their retirement from their athletic careers.

Alison Sweeney will return as host for The Biggest Loser Season 16. Trainers Bob Harper and Dolvett Quince will also return, and they will be joined by newcomers Jessie Pavelka and Jennifer Widerstrom.

Paul Telegdy, president of alternative and late night programming at NBC Entertainment, in a statement said: "We are excited to welcome Jessie and Jen into The Biggest Loser family, and know they will be valuable players on this life-changing show that continues to inspire millions of people to embrace a healthy lifestyle. We look forward to viewers meeting them and to revealing more great changes we have in store for the new season."