Scott Mitchell

NEW YORK — It’s a huge weight off Scott Mitchell’s shoulders — or, to be more accurate, off his formerly swollen midsection, which until not long ago helped him tip the scales at 366 pounds.

That’s 130 pounds more than during Mitchell’s dozen seasons in the NFL, where he played for the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens.

On Thursday’s edition of “The Biggest Loser” (NBC at 8 p.m.), Mitchell reveals his current physique: just 242 pounds on his 6-foot-6 frame.

In addition, he’ll be sporting a whole new look on this special makeover episode, as fashion expert Tim Gunn and celebrity hair stylist Ken Paves transform Mitchell and his fellow contestant at Comeback Canyon as well as the four remaining ranch contestants.

All that, plus Mitchell will be reunited with his family after 15 grueling, sequestered weeks of training.

“I get a new wardrobe, and they even cut my hair,” Mitchell said Wednesday in a phone interview. “I look pretty darn good.”

That’s a self-appraisal the 47-year-old Mitchell wouldn’t have voiced a few months ago.

“I really struggled with my weight during my playing career,” he recalled, having routinely gained 15 to 20 pounds each offseason that he had to lose before each season began. “When I retired in 2001, there were no more football seasons to get ready for. I had worked out because of my job, and after retiring I kind of resented exercise because of that. So I just slowly put on weight.”