Top 5 NFL Combine Bench Press Records of All Time: Who Has the Most Reps? – Muscle and fitness

The New England Patriots have improved their record for most Super Bowl qualifiers and now face the Seattle Seahawks for the twelfth time. However, despite this strong on-court record, no New Englanders are listed among the top five bench press players at an NFL combine. Are there any Seahawks on the list? Who is in the top 5?

Impressing scouts at an NFL Combine can lead to a highly touted draft pick, so to make the grade, players must undergo a series of physical tests to check their speed and strength. Included in the program are the 40-meter dash, the vertical jump and the ultimate test of strength and endurance: the bench press. NFL prospects are asked to lift 225 pounds for as many reps as possible, leading to amazing results. There are some technical points you need to master to make an official representation, such as not bouncing the bar off the chest and making sure you finish at the top. Okay, so who are the top 5 bench pressers in NFL Combine history? See below.

Justin Ernest | 51 repeats (1999)

Ernest is often overlooked as the record holder on this list because, despite his exploits at the 1999 combine, he never played a single game with the NFL. However, Ernest’s epic 51 reps are still unmatched after playing football at Eastern Kentucky University.

Stephen Paea | 49 repeats (2011)

Paea played for Oregon State Beavers and was selected by the Chicago bears in the second round of the NFL Draft, he later played for the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys before retiring in 2017.

Mitch Peter | 45 repeats (2010)

The late Mitch Petrus played and was for the Arkansas Razorbacks drafted by the New York Giants in 2010. He then helped secure victory in Super Bowl XLVI against the New England Patriots. Sadly, Peter died of a stroke at the age of 32.

Mike Kudla | 45 repeats (2006)

The late Mike Kudla played for the Ohio State Buckeyes before signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He died in 2018, at just 34 years old, but the exact cause of death was never revealed.

Leif Larsen | 45 reps (2000)

Larson it was drafted 194th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bill but remains in the upper echelons when it comes to bench pressing at the combine. The UTEP Miner quit football to become a boxer, building an impressive record of 17 wins with just two losses.

There may not be any Patriots or Seahawks on this list so far, but both teams will be forced to use all their power and speed during Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026. Who have you got?