{"id":651659,"date":"2026-02-23T17:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T16:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/?p=651659"},"modified":"2026-02-23T17:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T16:05:06","slug":"nfl-combine-2026-bench-press-odds-will-the-bench-press-record-be-broken","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/nfl-combine-2026-bench-press-odds-will-the-bench-press-record-be-broken\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Combine 2026 Bench Press Odds – Will the Bench Press Record Be Broken in the 2026 NFL Combine?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NFL <\/a>Combine 2026, starts from February 23rd to March 2nd in Indianapolis, serves as the premier pre-draft showcase where the league’s top college prospects undergo rigorous medical evaluations, athletic testing, on-field drills, and interviews with all 32 teams. It remains the most comprehensive event for assessing raw talent before the April draft. <\/p>

Fans gain critical insights into hidden strengths and weaknesses- 40-yard dash times, bench press reps, vertical leaps. shuttle runs, and positional drills reveal speed, explosiveness, and technique. Medical reports, interviews, and other measurables often reshape draft boards, creating buzz around breakout stars and potential sleepers. <\/p>

What is the Bench Press at NFL Combine?<\/h2>

The NFL <\/a>Combine bench press is a key strength test where prospects lie on a flat bench and press a 225-pound barbell as many times as possible without stopping or resting. It measures upper-body power, endurance, and raw pressing strength, particularly in the chest, shoulders, and triceps.<\/p>

This drill has become on of the most watched events at the Combine since the 1990s, offering scouts a quick, objective look of a player’s physical toughness and ability to sustain effort, qualities that are vital for offensive and defensive lineman, linebackers, and even some tight ends. <\/p>

High rep counts often provide a significant boost a draft stock for trench players and those expected to anchor the line of scrimmage, while lower numbers rarely derail top prospects if they excel in other areas such as speed, agility, technique, or on-field production. So, while the Combine offers various insights, it is not an end all be all situation.<\/p>

Bench Press Record Odds<\/h2>

The NFL Combine bench press tests upper-body strength and muscular endurance, requiring prospects to lift a 225-pound (102 kg) barbell as many times as possible without pausing. Since 1194, only 20 players have exceeded 40 repetitions, highlighting the drill’s difficulty. The all-time record stands at 51 reps, set by Justin Ernest (but wasn’t drafted to the NFL), with Stephen Paea tying for second at 49 reps in 2011.<\/p>

Other notable high marks include 45 reps by Mike Kudla (2006), Mitch Petrus (2010), and Leif Larsen (2000); 44 reps by Brodrick Bunkley (2006), Jeff Owens (2010), Dontari Poe (2012), and Netane Muti (2020). And 43 reps by Larry Allen (1994) and Scott Young (2005). At the 2025 Combine most recently, the top performance was 32 reps by tight end CJ Dippre, who tied the high mark from the previous year. <\/p>

Here’s an approximate idea of what is generally considered an excellent time at the bench press drill;<\/p>