NFL Combine Records: Best Marks in the 40-Yard Dash, Bench Press and More

Nothing screams NFL offseason like the annual tradition of spending a week watching prospects in tights run around the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, otherwise known as the so-called "Underwear Olympics," has kicked off in Indianapolis, Indiana. On-field workouts begin Thursday for some position groups and stretch through Sunday. Presumed top picks and late-round hopefuls alike will interview with teams, undergo medical examinations and go through drills for the dozens of coaches, general managers and scouts in attendance just two months out from this year's draft.

Though much is done behind the scenes at the combine, players can help boost their draft stock under the lights—whether that's by dazzling in the 40-yard dash or posting an eye-catching time on the stopwatch in the three-cone drill. And perhaps a standout performance or two this year will make its way into the record books.

Before prospects take the turf later in the week, here are the combine records they will be chasing, as listed on the NFL's website. As an added note, per FOX, these records are since 2006, when the league began tracking data electronically.

Take a look at the record holders in each combine event.

NFL Combine 40-Yard Dash Record

Record Holder: John Ross, WR, Washington — 4.22 seconds (2017)

Next Up: Kalon Barnes, CB, Baylor — 4.23 seconds (2022); Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina — 4.24 seconds (2008); DJ Turner II, CB, Michigan — 4.26 seconds (2023)

Johnson's time long stood as the combine's 40-yard dash standard. Then Ross came along. The speedster's sizzling 4.22 drew eye emojis out of the former Tennessee Titans running back for passing his mark, which Barnes also accomplished two years ago.

Even though Johnson has been dethroned as the combine's 40-yard dash king, he still owns the 10-yard split record (1.40 seconds). In other dash factoids, former Texas A&M signal-caller Reggie McNeal still owns the QB record (4.35 seconds in 2006). And the big guys can also move some. Former Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey leapt over another Pitt alum, Aaron Donald, last year to break the DT dash record with a 4.67-second mark.

NFL Combine Vertical Jump Record

Record Holders: Chris Conley, WR, Georgia (2015) and Donald Washington, CB, Ohio State (2009) — 45 inches each

Next Up: Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan (2020) and Bryon Jones, CB, Connecticut (2015) — 44.5 inches each

Washington has held onto the vertical record for 15 years now, though has shared it with Conley for most of the last decade. In addition to Peoples-Jones and Jones, a handful of players have come within an inch of the 45 tally. Four prospects, including Illinois safety Quan Martin last year, have recorded a 44-inch jump. In different record-breaking news, Colts QB Anthony Richardson set the new signal-caller standard with a 40.5-inch leap last year.

NFL Combine Broad Jump Record

Record Holder: Byron Jones — 12 feet, 3 inches

Next Up: Emanuel Hall, WR, Missouri (2019), Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia (2019) and Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut (2017) — 11 feet, 9 inches each

Jones not only soared to the top of the scouting combine's broad jump leaderboard in 2015 (surpassing the previous record by eight inches), but according to the NFL also unofficially set a world record in the event with his 12-foot, 3-inch performance. No other player has, per official records, crossed 12 feet in the broad jump at the combine. Between shattering the broad mark and a 44.5-inch vertical, the eventual Pro Bowler jumped his way into the first round. Literally.

NFL Combine 3-Cone Drill Record

Record Holder: Jeff Maehl, WR, Oregon — 6.42 seconds (2011)

Next Up: Buster Skrine, DB, Tennessee-Chattanooga — 6.44 seconds (2011); David Long, LB, West Virginia (2019) and Scott Long, WR, Louisville (2010) — 6.45 seconds each

The 3-cone drill—also known as the L-drill—isn't a must-see attraction for fans the way the 40-yard dash is, though it does allow evaluators to track a player's speed and agility, among other things. Over a decade later, no prospect has surpassed Maehl's 6.42-second time in 2011, though Skrine was the closest that same year.

NFL Combine 20-Yard Shuttle Record

Record Holders: Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State (2014) and Jason Allen, CB, Tennessee (2006) — 3.81 seconds each

Next Up: Bobby McCain, CB, Memphis — 3.82 seconds (2015); B.W. Webb, CB, William & Mary — 3.84 seconds (2013); Justin Simmons, FS, Boston College (2016) and Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington (2013) — 3.85 seconds each

Like the 3-cone drill, the 20-yard shuttle emphasizes changes of direction. In this case, in a straightforward explanation by the Houston Texans, "The player starts in a three-point stance and then runs five yards to his right, touches the ground, reverses and runs back 10 yards, touches the ground, before heading back five yards to the finish line." For the Eagles fans (or Swifties) out there, Jason Kelce is the longstanding offensive lineman record holder in this category with a 4.14-second time in 2011.

NFL Combine Bench Press Record

Record Holder: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State — 49 reps (2011)

Next Up: Mitch Petrus, OL, Arkansas (2010) and Mike Kudla, DL, Ohio State (2006) — 45 reps each; Netane Muti, G, Fresno State (2020), Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis (2012) and Jeff Owens, DT, Georgia (2010) — 44 reps each

Paea obliterated the field, both in 2011 and every other year in the official record book, by pumping out 49 repetitions of 225-pound bench press. And in a bonus piece of bench-press history, only one QB has ever hit 25 reps in this event at the combine—while kickers and punters combined have recorded that tally twice.