Here are the record numbers for various positions that have been put up in bench press tests at the NFL Scouting Combine. Stephen Paea currently holds the unofficial record for most reps at 225 pounds with 49 in a row, which he did back in 2011. It serves as a testament to the brutal competition and powerhouse you have to be in order showcase at this event.
Historical Context
Since 1977, the combine has been conducted each year and transformed into a stage where athletes demonstrate their strength, speed and agility. In particular, the bench press provides an indication of upper body strength and endurance. Justin Ernest technically hit the record previously, with 51 reps in 1999; but he was never good enough to carve out an NFL career (so Paea’s mark is probably considered “the real number” when it comes among pros).bench press (ad)14
Performance by Position
There is a tremendous variation in how people perform on the bench press depending on their position. Linemen generally do well, with 30-39 reps as an average and then it drops off to around the neighborhood of running back/receiver numbers — about twice that much at best for 15-25. This difference further emphasizes the varying physical requirements of each football position12.
Impact on Careers
While some impressive combine performances, like Paea’s record-setting lift, do not correlate with long-term success in the NFL. For example, Paea lasted seven years in the league, but he never became a premier player. This phenomenon itself brings much needed parsimony among the predictive power of combine results to subsequent professional success in football34.
Put all that together, and the bench press at the NFL Combine is one of shells from which to make soup — only a part of many things scouts use when evaluating whether to take a chance on you coming through for them in an game.
