Best NFL Combine Bench Press records in history

The NFL Combine athletic testing has one true feat of strength as players Bench Press 225 pounds. But what are the Bench Press records at the Combine?

The 2023 NFL Combine is here where fans around the country will watch draft prospects run the 40-yard dash, perform the jumps, Bench Press 225 pounds as many times as possible, run drills and so much more.

Really, the NFL Combine in Indianapolis (for now) is often just as much about what happens behind closed doors in meetings and interviews than it is the athletic testing. That doesn’t stop fans, however, from overreacting and getting excited about when a player is chasing the Combine Bench Press records, the fastest 40-yard dash time, and so on with crazy athleticism.

Some of those records, however, seem a bit unattainable. And the ones for the Bench Press might qualify more than most.

Bench Press records in NFL Combine history: Every player with over 40 reps

There’s an interesting quirk with the Bench Press records at the NFL Combine. Back in 1999, Eastern Kentucky defensive tackle Justin Ernest became the only man in history to eclipse 50 reps with 225 pounds, hitting 51 during his testing. For whatever reason, he is often not recognized for his feat as the record-holder as defensive tackle Stephen Paea out of Oregon State is given that distinction with 49 reps. We, however, will include Ernest to give him his deserved credit.

Here are the Bench Press records for the Combine with every player to record more than 40 reps of 225 pounds. Get ready to see a lot of defensive tackles.

• Justin Ernest, DT, Eastern Kentucky (1999) – 51 reps
• Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State (2011) – 49 reps
• Mike Kudla, DL, Ohio State (2006) – 45 reps
• Leif Larsen, DT, UTEP (2000) – 45 reps
• Mitch Petrus, OG, Arkansas (2010) – 45 reps
• Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida State (2006) – 44 reps
• Netane Muti, OG, Fresno State (2020) – 44 reps
• Jeff Owens, DT, Georgia (2010) – 44 reps
• Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis (2012) – 44 reps
• Kyle Harrington, DT, UMass (2010) – 43 reps
• Scott Young, OG, BYU (2005) – 43 reps
• Russell Bodine, C, North Carolina (2014) – 42 reps
• Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford (2018) – 42 reps
• Isaac Sopoaga, DT, Hawaii (2004) – 42 reps
• Tank Tyler, DT, NC State (2007) – 42 reps
• David Molk, C, Michigan (2012) – 41 reps
• Terna Nande, LB, Miami (OH) (2006) – 41 reps
• Igor Olshansky, DE, Oregon (2004) – 41 reps
• Vita Vea, DT, Washington (2018) – 41 reps

We’ll see if anyone at the 2023 NFL Combine can put their name on this list in Indianapolis.