History of the NFL Combine
The NFL Combine - officially the National Invitational Camp (NIC) - is held annually in the lead up to the NFL Draft. Over the years the size and importance of the combine as increased. The combine is now a major event, attended by several hundred members of the media with eyes glued to over 300 football prospects.
40 yard dash fitness test at an American football combineTimeline of Significant Combine Events
- from 1977 - workouts were conducted by three separate scouting services National, Blesto and Quadra.
- 1982 - National Football Scouting, Inc., responding to ideas from some team officials and personnel departments, created the National Invitational Camp (NIC), and conducted the first testing in Tampa, Florida, attended by 163 players. An additional two camps were held elsewhere for teams that did not belong to National Football Scouting (from 1982-1984).
- 1984 - The NIC was held in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- 1985 - The three camps were merged, as all 28 NFL teams agreed to participate in the one single annual Combine, held in Arizona. The NIC was renamed the NFL scouting combine following the merger of the three camps.
- 1986 - The NFL scouting combine was held in New Orleans. Bo Jackson reportedly has a hand-timed 4.12 second 40 yard dash time, still the fastest ever 40m time at a combine.
- 1987 - The combine moved permanently to Indianapolis in 1987, held at the Hoosier Dome (later to be called RCA Dome). It stayed at this venue until 2009.
- 2004 - The NFL scouting combine was first shown on television
- 2005 - the surface at the RCA dome was changed from AstroTurf surface to FieldTurf, resulting in faster 40m times.
- 2009 - the combine moved to the new Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts
- 2011 - a series of regional combines started for players not invited to the main scouting combine.
- 2015 - the first Veteran Combine was held, for veteran free agent players that were previously eligible for an NFL Draft.
- 2021 - due to the coronavirus pandemic, no central combine was held, instead the fitness assessments were held as part of the individual college pro days, and the interviews held virtually.
Related Pages
- Top NFL Combine Results for each test.
- About a NFL Quarterback Combine.
- About the NFL Veteran Combine
- About the Regional Combines
- NBA, AFL and NHL draft tests.
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