The NFL Combine is an exciting time of year for fans and players alike. The college stars all get a chance to put their skills on display for the world to see—and the fans get a fist glimpse at the new crop of up-and-coming talent that could change the game for their team.
That’s not to say, however, that the NFL Combine is not without a bit of jocularity, as we have seen some pretty hilarious incidents take place over the years. Let’s take a look back at the 15 funniest combine bloopers of all-time!
Taron Johnson Hit in the Face
When a wide receiver is trying to establish himself as a legitimate NFL prospect, one of the most important things that he can do—you guessed it—is prove that he can catch the ball. Taron Johnson, on the other hand, well, he decided to take the exact opposite approach and let the ball rocket off his face during a receiving drill at the NFL Combine. Ouch!
Shamarko Thomas
It has now been a couple of years since Shamarko Thomas has played in the NFL, but the former fourth-round pick out of Syracuse made quite an impression on scouts during his time at the NFL Combine. The former track star ran a blazing-fast 4.42 40-yard dash, but the most impressive aspect of it by far was the fact that he powered through a hilarious stumble at the end of the run to secure his time. The man was running so fast that he essentially hit a speed wobble, like he was a skateboarder, but running on the football field. Simply ridiculous!
4.3 40 – last step full out face plant
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Vick Ballard False Start
He may have fallen into the fifth round, but Vick Ballard was one of the more promising running back prospects in the 2012 NFL Draft. One can only wonder if that fall to Indy was at all related to the fall he took while he was running his 40-yard dash. Not only did he stumble, but he also fall started, and went crashing into the timer. Just a tough scene across the board.
Rich Eisen
Rich Eisen spends a lot of time critiquing athletes, so credit to him for putting himself out there to face some of the scrutiny himself, by running a 40-yard dash for the whole world to see. Eisen, of course, took over six seconds to complete it and looked about as athletic as a table completing the run. What made the entire reel even more hilarious, was the time elapses the production crew layered over, showing just how much faster the actual event participants were than Eisen.
Adam Schefter Moaning during Fake Bench Press
Obviously, this one was a bit, but my lord was it cringe-worthy. Listening to Adam Schefter huff and puff like that should send a chill down any onlookers’ spine, especially the McCaffrey family’s as he bizarrely rattled off their names. That said, it was good for Schefter to get some engagement with this little foray into “weightlifting” – it was admittedly a somewhat entertaining combine blooper. Maybe just less moaning next time, Adam? Is that too much to ask?
Jadon Gayle Broad Jump
NFL players are supposed to be physical specimens, some of the very top athletes in the world, but Jadon Gayle really flopped when it came to broad jump during his combine. Not only did he fall, but he brought someone else down with him—then, for some reason, acted like it was the guy who knocked over’s fault! A blooper to the umpteenth degree.
Tom Brady’s 40 Yard Dash
There aren’t many things that you can joke on Tom Brady for over his storied 20-year NFL career, but the 40-yard dash from his combine showing was definitely worth a chuckle. The man who would go on to be arguably the greatest football player of all-time, winning seven Super Bowls, looked like a math teacher who got sent out to the high school field for a pep rally!
Marcell Ateman Gauntlet Drill 2018
Marcell Ateman, the former Oklahoma State University wide receiver, did his best to make the Gauntlet Drill at the NFL combine in 2018 look just about as hard as humanly possible. The poor guy was tearing down the middle of the field and having passes rocket off of him with each step. It almost looked like this was designed to be a drop drill the way he did it!
Jabril Peppers
Jabril Peppers is one of the more dynamic defensive players in the game today. He is a safety by trade, but can play all over the field. During the combine, however, he decided to put on a completely different skillset and that was his wild, ranting stream of consciousness, during which, he admitted that he might’ve performed better at the combine had he not put on 13 pounds. Talk about a bold approach to what is effectively a job interview!
Nick Marshall 40-Yard Dash and Instagram Guy
When Nick Marshall stepped up to the line to run his 40-yard dash, the former Auburn quarterback was focused on nothing but his future. Unfortunately, it turned out that there were some other people in and around the event who were not so focused on what they were doing… Namely, the now infamous “Instagram guy” who got scolded for being out of place like a petulant child!
Cody Prewitt High Stepping
There are several different techniques that coaches will teach athletes as they prepare for the 40-yard dash, but Cody Prewitt, well, he decided to beat to the rhythm of his own drum. Prewitt deployed a strategy that can only be described as a ridiculous high stepping running hybrid that looked hilarious on tape and drew the attention of the commentators.
Chris Jones Faceplant Flash
This might be the infamous Draft blunder we have… The legendary Chris Jones incident, during which the freakishly athletic defensive lineman inadvertently exposed himself while running the 40-yard dash solely due to inertia. He then proceeds to do a massive faceplant dragging God knows what across the brutal turf surface. Truly a blunder of epic proportions!
Trey Adams interview
While most of the combine is about guys putting their athleticism on display, NFL scouts, coaches, and GMs are also looking for individuals who will emerge as “character guys.” They are looking for people that they feel confident they can put into a locker room and have them improve the people around them. Part of that is seeing traits of leadership, then there is the football IQ piece, and the final ingredient, of course, is common sense. This is something that clearly evaded Trey Adams when he was asked what he would like to improve about himself!
Korey Robertson Gauntlet Drill 2018
Now, we aren’t saying that gauntlet drill is easy, at least not for the average person… But the people participating in the NFL combine aren’t exactly “average people.” But Korey Robertson, the wide receiver prospect out of Southern Miss, found a way to look oh, so normal during his attempt. You have to think that the young receiver was a little bit embarrassed afterward watching the balls carom off his hands like that.
Teez Tabor “Best Player in the Draft”
It is important to be confident if you want to be a great athlete, after all, there are very few who climb the ranks of sport without it. It is, however, fairly critical that you are able to back up that confidence to some degree. This was a lesson that Teez Tabor learned very quickly, when he proclaimed himself as the best player in the draft, puffing his chest out left, right, and center only to lay a complete egg during the bench press segment of the event. Bench press obviously isn’t the end all be all of being a good cornerback in the NFL, but he definitely set the expectations higher than nine reps!
