The NFL Scouting Combine is a pivotal event in the league’s offseason, drawing college athletes nationwide to take evaluative tests that often dictate their professional futures. Among these, the bench press test poses a formidable challenge, requiring participants to lift a 225lb (102kg) barbell repeatedly, testing endurance over pure strength, with defensive players frequently excelling.
Repetitions vary by position, with linemen averaging 30-39 lifts, tight ends and linebackers 25-30, running backs 20-25, and defensive backs and receivers 15-20. Quarterbacks typically abstain from this test.
In the combine’s nearly four-decade history, only 20 participants have exceeded 40 reps. Of these, only Mitch Petrus, a guard for the New York Giants during their Super Bowl XLVI victory, achieved notable NFL success.
Top performers in the bench press at the combine include defensive tackle Justin Ernest, who set an unofficial record with 51 lifts in 1999 but never played in the NFL, and Stephen Paea, who holds the official record with 49 repetitions in 2011 and enjoyed a seven-season career across several teams. However, he did not achieve standout success and retired due to a chronic knee injury.
Despite their impressive combined performances, other top bench pressers like Mike Kudla, Leif Larsen, and Petrus had brief and undistinguished NFL careers.
The combine serves as a talent exhibition, allowing coaches, agents, and scouts to assess prospects in a uniform setting. While some athletes use the event to enhance their draft prospects with notable performances, success in the combine, as illustrated by the bench press, does not always translate to professional achievement, underscoring the complexity of predicting future NFL success based on combined results alone.
What is the bench press record at the NFL Combine?
| Player Name | Position | Year | Repetitions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Ernest | DT | 1999 | 51 |
| Stephen Paea | DT | 2011 | 49 |
| Leif Larsen | DT | 2000 | 45 |
| Mike Kudla | DE | 2006 | 45 |
| Mitch Petrus | OL | 2010 | 45 |
| Brodrick Bunkley | DT | 2006 | 44 |
| Jeff Owens | DT | 2010 | 44 |
| Dontari Poe | DT | 2012 | 44 |
| Netane Muti | OL | 2020 | 44 |
