Well, after two weeks of an “offseason,” the 2026 NFL season kicks off (pun intended) at the annual NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
THE 2026 NFL SCOUTING COMBINE
The NFL Scouting Combine will be held February 23 – March 2, 2026 on Lucas Oil Stadium’s playing field, and in the stadium's suites for private, formal, 18-minute interviews. Informal, 15-minute interviews also take place in a designated lounge area within the stadium, where teams have tables to meet with prospects.
Over three hundred of the very best college football players are invited to participate in the Combine. top executives, coaching staffs, player personnel departments and medical staff from all 32 NFL teams will be on hand to evaluate the nation’s top college football players eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft. This intense, four-day job interview is an exciting time for the athletes and a vital step in achieving their dreams of playing in the NFL.
• For this year's annual event, the league invited 319 players in total. The most players invited from one school is Texas A&M with 13. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) will be the highest represented conference at the Combine with 115 players invited.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
CORE COMBINE DRILLS
Prospects will be evaluated through the following drills:
• 40-Yard Dash: Measures acceleration, speed, and explosion, with 10-yard splits often analyzed for "first-step" quickness.
• Bench Press: Evaluates strength and endurance by requiring players to lift 225 pounds as many times as possible.
• Vertical Jump: Measures lower-body, explosive power.
• Broad Jump: Tests lower-body, horizontal power.
• Three-Cone Drill: Assesses agility, fluid change of direction, and speed, particularly for defensive linemen and wide receivers.
• 20-Yard Shuttle (5-10-5): Tests lateral quickness, agility, and acceleration.
POSITION-SPECIFIC DRILLS
• Wide Receivers/Tight Ends/Running Backs: Gauntlet drill (running across the field catching passes), route running, and catching passes from quarterbacks.
• Offensive Linemen: Mirror-dodge (agility), "wave" drills, and punch drills to evaluate footwork, hand placement, and hip mobility.
• Defensive Linemen/Linebackers: "Running the hoop" (flexibility/bend), linebacker coverage drills, and pass-rush moves.
• Defensive Backs: Backpedaling, fluid hips, and catching drills to simulate coverage.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
COMBINE LIVE DRILLS SCHEDULE
Live coverage will be aired on NFL Network
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 (PK, DL, LB)
Combine Experience: Gates Open 1:00pm – 7:00pm ET
Inside Look: Gates Open 1:00pm – 8:30pm ET
Drills Begin: 3:00pm ET
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 (TE, DB)
Combine Experience: Gates Open 1:00pm – 7:00pm ET
Inside Look: Gates Open 1:00pm – 9:00pm ET
Drills Begin: 3:00pm ET
SATURDAY, FEBRUARUY 28 (QB, WR, RB)
Combine Experience: Gates Open 11:00am – 7:00pm ET
Inside Look: Gates Open 11:00am – 8:30pm ET
Drills Begin: 1:00pm ET
SUNDAY, MARCH 1 (OL)
Combine Experience: Gates Open 11:00am – 4:00pm ET
Inside Look: Gates Open 11:00am – 4:30pm ET
Drills Begin: 1:00pm ET
NFL SCOUTING COMBINE HISTORY
National Invitational Camp (NIC), more commonly known as the NFL Scouting Combine, began in 1982 when National Football Scouting, Inc. first conducted a camp for its member NFL clubs in Tampa, Florida. The key purpose then, same as it is today, was to ascertain medical information on the top draft eligible prospects in college football. The inaugural NIC was attended by a total of 163 players and established a foundation for future expansion.
During the first three years, two additional camps were held at different times to collect similar information for teams that did not belong to National Football Scouting. However, in 1985 all 28 NFL teams decided they would participate in future National Invitational Camps with the goal of sharing costs for the medical examinations of draft eligible players. After brief stints in New Orleans (1984, 1986) and Arizona (1985) the camp was moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where it has been operated since 1987.
As football and the art of evaluating players has evolved, so has the NFL Scouting Combine. While medical examinations remain the number one priority of the event, athletes will also participate in a variety of psychological and physical tests, as well as formal and informal interviews with top executives, coaches and scouts from all 32 NFL teams. NIC is the ultimate four-day job interview for the top college football players eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Who is eligible to be invited to the NFL Combine?
• All college seniors are eligible for the NFL Combine immediately following their final year of collegiate eligibility.
• Any underclassmen who declare for the NFL draft and satisfy all NCAA and NFL requirements are eligible to participate.
• Additionally, an athlete who is not playing collegiate football may qualify under a special circumstance in the year that correlates to his natural draft year had he been playing college football. He must first contact the Player Personnel Department at the NFL Office in New York (212-450-2000) to verify eligibility for the upcoming NFL Draft.
How are players selected for the NFL Combine?
All 32 NFL teams are invited to participate in selecting the draft-eligible prospects to participate in the annual NFL Scouting Combine. National Football Scouting and BLESTO scouting are also invited to provide input. ALL eligible players are reviewed and voted on by the participating teams/scouting organizations and each prospect receiving the necessary number of votes, by position, is then extended an invitation. National Football Scouting manages the selection process and works with all NFL team scouting departments to finalize the annual roster. The evaluation process is subjective and therefore not a perfect science, but the goal of the Combine and the NFL teams is to invite every draft-eligible prospect who will be drafted in the ensuing NFL Draft.
• What players are told to bring
“Workout gear will be provided, but you must bring your own running shoes. Due to the cold climate, we suggest you bring a sweatsuit, warm jacket, gloves and hat.”
“Additionally, you will spend periods of time waiting for examinations and between events, so we recommend bringing mobile devices, iPads, or books to occupy your downtime.”
• How many players are invited to attend the NFL Scouting Combine?
The number of athletes per position varies from year-to-year depending on the available talent. However, they are able to accommodate and process up to 335 total athletes each year.
• Can a player not invited to attend the NFL Scouting Combine still be drafted?
Yes. Many players who enjoy successful careers in the NFL did not attend the NFL Combine.
• If a player is not selected to attend, what can they do?
Once the selections have been made and the participant list is finalized, any athlete who is not invited should begin training for his pro day at his University. An athlete’s performance in college games is the basis for all player evaluations, and NFL personnel will be able to further evaluate your speed and skills at their pro day.
