For years, the Wonderlic test was as much a part of the NFL Combine as the 40-yard dash or bench press reps. Draft prospects would sit down, race the clock, and hope their mental agility impressed scouts. But in 2022, the NFL benched this long-standing tradition for good. Why did they toss the Wonderlic aside? Turns out, it wasn’t living up to the hype.
Let’s break down what led the league to drop this controversial exam and how the Combine has changed since.
A Revamp Of The NFL Combine
In 2022, the NFL made sweeping changes to its annual Combine in Indianapolis. This included altering positional drills for wide receivers, tight ends, running backs, and offensive linemen. But the biggest shake-up was the removal of the Wonderlic test.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent explained the move as part of “an overall audit of all of the assessments” conducted at the Combine. His reasoning? The Wonderlic had simply become outdated.
“Frankly, it’s been an outdated process,” Vincent stated.
No Proven Correlation To On-Field Success
The Wonderlic test, a 50-question multiple-choice exam, was originally designed to measure problem-solving skills and mental aptitude. Participants have 12 minutes to complete the test, with a score of 20 representing average intelligence. Despite its long-standing use in the NFL, critics argued that the test’s results had little relevance to football performance.
According to Robert O’Connell of The New York Times, “No statistically significant correlation between a player’s Wonderlic score and his on-field performance has ever been documented.”
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This lack of connection raised questions about the test’s purpose in evaluating draft prospects. If a high or low Wonderlic score didn’t predict success on the field, why did it matter?
Negative Impact On Draft Stock
Though the Wonderlic failed to reflect a player’s football abilities, it often influenced their draft stock. Ironically, even stellar scores could backfire.
Former punter Pat McInally, the only player to ever earn a perfect 50 out of 50, believed his high score hurt him in the draft process.
“Coaches and front-office guys don’t like extremes one way or the other, but particularly not on the high side,” McInally said in 2006. “I think they think guys who are intelligent will challenge authority too much.”
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McInally, a Harvard graduate and College Football Hall of Famer was drafted in the fifth round of the 1975 NFL Draft. While he went on to have a successful career, his experience highlighted how the Wonderlic could work against players, even when they excelled.
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The Wonderlic’s Limited Validity
Beyond football, the Wonderlic has been used by organizations like the United States Armed Forces and AT&T to measure applicants’ mental aptitude. Invented in 1936 by Eldon F. Wonderlic, a psychology graduate student at Northwestern University, the test gained a reputation as a quick way to assess intelligence.
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However, research cast doubt on its reliability. A study by the Georgia Institute of Technology found the test’s validity to be limited, while a Psychological Reports article noted that the Wonderlic was “most strongly associated with overall intellectual functioning” but had restricted practical applications.
These findings further undermined the test’s value in the high-stakes world of NFL scouting.
A Shift Toward Relevant Assessments
By removing the Wonderlic, the NFL signaled a shift toward more relevant evaluation methods. Instead of relying on an outdated IQ test, teams now gauge players’ intelligence through football-specific exercises, such as analyzing formations, reviewing game films, and answering questions about strategy.
This approach ensures that assessments align more closely with the demands of the game.
Prioritizing Professionalism
The NFL’s decision to eliminate the Wonderlic coincided with a new policy to improve the Combine interview process. Teams now face penalties, including fines and the forfeiture of draft picks, for conduct deemed “disrespectful, inappropriate, or unprofessional” during player interviews.
This move reinforces the league’s commitment to treating prospects respectfully while ensuring evaluations remain focused on football.
The Wonderlic test was in the spotlight, but its removal reflects the NFL’s evolving priorities. By discarding this outdated tool, the league has embraced a more modern and relevant approach to evaluating the next generation of football talent.
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