The NFL Combine is a staple for young collegiate athletes, trying to impress teams with their athletic skills in an attempt to get drafted. The combine itself has changed a ton over the years, going from a lesser-known thing to a nationally televised event.
The combine was first started in 1982 in Tampa, FL. It was created to evaluate the medical aspects of the top college prospects. It was also divided into three different scouting camps. It rotated from city to city until it was permanently set in Indianapolis in 1987. Since then, it has become the staple for evaluating players. The combine consists of many events, including physical and mental tests. Some of the events include the Wonderlic Test, Bench Press, Vertical Jump, 20- yard shuttle, and the most famous, 40-yard dash. Interviews and drug testing also take place.
In modern times, about 330 players are invited to participate in the combine, which serves as an opportunity for players to improve their draft stock. This was especially prominent with former defensive end Mike Mamula. Mamula was projected to be a mid-round pick before the combine, but he excelled at the combine, putting up incredible numbers for his position. With that, he was picked 7th overall. He did not live up to the first round expectations, only lasting six seasons with mediocre stats. What happened was that Mamula was one of the first players to specifically train for the combine, which players had never done before. This shows how much a good combine can affect how high a player is drafted. However, it can also be a draft stock killer. A good example is Orlando Brown Jr, an offensive tackle from Oklahoma. He was projected to be a first-rounder, but he notoriously had one of the worst combines ever. Brown ran a 5.85 40-yard dash and finished last in bench press, broad jump, and vertical. His draft stock plummeted, and he ended up getting drafted in the third round by the Baltimore Ravens. Despite the combine, Brown has become one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL, proving that the combine has its flaws.
The 40-yard dash is by far the most popular event of the combine. Each athlete strives to show their top speed, and speeds have become faster and faster with each passing decade. Though it was not at the combine itself, legendary athlete Bo Jackson reportedly ran a 4.12 40, which would have been over a second faster than the current record. However, whether he actually ran this is subject to controversy, as it was never confirmed. In the 2008 combine, runningback Chris Johnson ran a 4.24, setting the standard for the years to come. The next time it was broken was in 2017, when receiver John Ross ran a 4.22. Just recently, receiver Xavier Worthy broke the record with a 4.21 time. However, it’s not just the small guys that run it. Offensive and defensive linemen run it as well and have put up some impressive numbers. The record is held by tackle Terron Armstead for the offensive side, with a 4.71 time. Armstead is over 300 pounds, which makes this incredible. Defensive linemen vary in size more than offensive linemen, so it is tough to decide on an official record. One notable run was that of defensive lineman Jordan Davis. At 341 pounds, Davis ran a 4.78 40, which was mind-blowing, and solidified his first-round draft choice.
Another big combine event includes the bench press and the vertical jump. The bench press is the number of times the athlete can bench 225. The record is currently held by defensive tackle Stephen Paea, who put up 49 reps, though he did not pan out in the NFL. The bench press is one of those events that does not decide how good someone is. The vertical, however, shows pure athleticism. The record is held by Gerald Sensabaugh with 46 inches. The vertical shows explosiveness and lower-body strength, and can show athletic potential in a player.
The 2026 combine just wrapped up a bit ago, and showed some impressive performances, highlighted by Arkansas QB Taylen Green, who broke the records of 40-yard dash, vertical, and broad jump for his position. Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq also broke the 40-yard dash record for a tight end, witha 4.39 time. The fastest 40 was run by Mississippi St receiver Brenen Thompson, who recorded a time of 4.26. The bench press record was lower this year, with 33 being the most, recorded by offensive tackle Trey Zuhn III. Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers set the record for tight ends and recorded the highest jump by any player for the last 20 years, with a 45.5-inch vertical. Overall, over 10 position-specific, major, and records were broken at this year’s combine, and with modern training only evolving, we can expect to see this more often as the years pass.
The NFL Combine has been shaped from just a scouting event into a national event that fans keep track of. It also exists as an opportunity for lower ranked prospect to boost their stock; it has offered many exciting moments and a showcase for some of the best athletes in the world.
