The NFL Combine puts prospects through an array of tests designed to give NFL teams insight into their athletic abilities. One of the simplest of these tests is the bench press. How much weight do NFL prospects bench at the Combine? And who are some of the strongest prospects ever?
How Much Weight Do NFL Prospects Bench at the Combine?
The bench press at the NFL Combine is used to evaluate player strength. Of course, bench press isn’t the be all, end all for any prospect, but it can be especially important for positions where strength is key, such as offensive and defense line.
In order to keep everyone on a level playing field, all players bench press the same amount of weight. That proves scouts and talent evaluators with a one-to-one comparison of the number of repetitions each player is able to put up. The amount of weight on the bench press at the NFL Combine is 225 pounds.
5 Best Bench Press Results of All Time
The bench press definitely matters, but the historical records are full of names you probably haven’t even heard of. It’s more important that prospects hit certain thresholds to establish a baseline level of strength, as opposed to simply being able to brute force up massive amounts of reps.
MORE: NFL Combine Records — 40 Times, Bench Press, Vertical Jump, and More
With that said, it’s always fun to look at records. So let’s check out the five best bench press performances of all time.
Justin Ernest, DT, 1999
The Eastern Kentucky defensive tackle remains the strongest prospect in NFL Combine bench press history. Justin Ernest put up a record 51 reps back in 1999.
Unfortunately, Ernest’s strength didn’t translate to a successful NFL career…or really any NFL career at all. Ernest went undrafted and only played one NFL season.
Stephen Paea, DT, 2011
The most recent name on this list is Stephen Paea. In 2011, Paea completed 49 reps on the bench in 2011. He went on to have a seven-year career, playing for the Bears, Commanders, Browns, and Cowboys before retiring in 2017.
Mike Kudla, DL, 2006
Back in 2006, Mike Kudla recorded 45 bench press reps. Kudla’s career ended before it began due to a really bad hamstring injury. Sadly, Kudla died in 2018 at just 34 years old.
Leif Larsen, DL, 2000
Another example of strength not being everything is Leif Larsen. Way back in 2000, Larsen posted 45 reps on the bench at the Combine. Larsen did end up being drafted by the Bills, but played just two professional seasons prior to retiring.
Mitch Petrus, G, 2010
Tied with Larsen is Mitch Petrus, with 45 bench press reps himself. Petrus was drafted by the Giants in 2010 and spent a little over two seasons there before bouncing between the Patriots and Titans. Petrus’ last year in the NFL was 2012.
Sadly, Petrus also left us way too soon, dying of a heat stroke in 2019 at just 32 years old.
