The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off Thursday with four days of grueling athletic testing as top draft prospects vie to improve their stock. While combine performance doesn't guarantee NFL success, the event has produced some unforgettable moments that shaped careers and rewrote the record books.

Deion Sanders speeds through the 40 and runs off (1989)

Deion Sanders initially refused to participate in the 1989 combine, confident he'd be a top-five pick regardless. When he finally relented and ran the 40-yard dash, he clocked a 4.27 seconds—then bolted straight into the locker room without completing other drills.

According to former Dallas Cowboys executive Gil Brandt, Sanders' exit was dramatic. Unverified accounts claim he sprinted to a limousine outside the Hoosier Dome and demanded a ride to the airport, cementing his legendary status before even entering the NFL.

The Atlanta Falcons selected Sanders fifth overall in that year's draft.

Tom Brady puts up an unspectacular performance (2000)

Few people cared about Tom Brady's 2000 combine numbers at the time. It's become one of the most instructive cautionary tales in NFL evaluation.

Brady's 5.28-second 40-yard dash ranked among the slowest for quarterbacks tested since 2000. His vertical jump (24.5 inches) and broad jump (99 inches) both landed in the third percentile or worse among quarterbacks. His shirtless photos became internet fodder for years, even mocked by Brady himself.

The unimpressive showing contributed to Brady sliding to a sixth-round pick. He later won seven Super Bowls, proving athletic testing metrics have limits.

Stephen Paea breaks bench press record (2011)

Pre-combine videos showed Stephen Paea posting 45 bench press reps of 225 pounds, fueling speculation he could break the standing record of 45 reps tied by Mitch Petrus the previous year.

At the 2011 combine, Paea crushed the expectation. He reached 43 reps in just 36 seconds, tied the record at 45, then kept pushing for four more reps. His final tally: 49 bench press reps, lifting 11,025 pounds total, all in under a minute.

The Chicago Bears drafted him in the second round. Over a decade later, no one has seriously threatened his record. Dontari Poe and Netane Muti came closest with 44 reps each.

Aaron Donald dominates the combine (2014)

Aaron Donald delivered an all-time combine performance before becoming a Rams legend. His 4.68-second 40-yard dash turned heads, while his 7.11-second 3-cone drill remains the quickest time recorded by a defensive tackle since at least 2014.

Among defensive tackles in his draft class, Donald posted the most bench press reps (35) and recorded the best broad jump (9 feet, 8 inches).

The Los Angeles Rams wisely selected him in the first round.

Byron Jones breaks a world record (2015)

Byron Jones was rehabbing shoulder surgery ahead of the 2015 combine and wasn't expected to participate. Determined to prove his health and boost his draft stock, he committed to limited drills.

His broad jump changed everything. Jones recorded 12 feet, 3 inches—shattering the previous combine record by eight inches and unofficially setting a world record by an inch. He surpassed Norwegian shot putter Arne Tvervaag's 12-foot, 2-inch mark that had stood for nearly 50 years since 1968.

Jones entered the combine as an afterthought and left as one of the top cornerbacks in the draft. The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the first round.

Shaquem Griffin has a historic outing (2018)

Born with amniotic band syndrome, Shaquem Griffin had his left hand amputated at age 4. He starred at UCF as a linebacker, winning AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016, but entered the 2018 draft amid questions about his NFL viability.

At the combine, Griffin silenced doubters. He ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash—the fastest time for a linebacker in 15 years. Using a prosthetic, he recorded 20 bench press reps.

The Seattle Seahawks drafted Griffin in the fifth round, making him the first player with one hand ever selected in the NFL Draft. Months later, he became the first one-handed player in the NFL's modern era.

DaRon Stokes Jr. defies the big man stereotype (2022)

Interior defensive linemen typically carry the "slow" label. DaRon Stokes Jr. obliterated that narrative at the 2022 combine.

Weighing 341 pounds, Stokes ran a 4.78-second 40-yard dash. He became just the third player over 330 pounds to break five seconds and set a new record as the fastest 330-pound player by a margin of 0.14 seconds.

Anthony Richardson puts on a quarterback clinic (2023)

Anthony Richardson had limited college tape—just one starting season at Florida—but flashed elite athleticism. With draft uncertainty surrounding his future, he arrived at the 2023 combine determined to prove himself.

Richardson delivered a dominant performance:

• 4.43-second 40-yard dash: Fourth-fastest time ever for a quarterback
• 40.5-inch vertical jump: Record for any quarterback
• 10-foot, 9-inch broad jump: Record for any quarterback

Richardson became only the third quarterback to achieve a perfect relative athletic score (RAS), joining Daunte Culpepper and Cam Newton. He also launched passes traveling 60-plus yards in the air during individual drills.

The Indianapolis Colts selected Richardson fourth overall in the draft.

Joe Milton airs it out at the combine (2024)

Joe Milton wasn't viewed as a top quarterback prospect in the 2024 draft, but Michigan and Tennessee fans knew about his rocket arm. Draft evaluators were eager for his throwing session—he delivered.

Milton tied Josh Allen's record with a 62 mph fastball, then escalated. He uncorked multiple passes traveling over 70 yards in the air. On one highlight-reel throw, Milton dropped back and fired a completion that drew roars from the crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Xavier Worthy shatters the 40-yard dash record (2024)

Xavier Worthy entered the 2024 combine as a candidate to break the combine 40-yard dash record. The Texas speedster had displayed elite velocity throughout his college career.

On his first run, Worthy posted 4.25 seconds—just three-hundredths of a second off John Ross's 2017 record. He initially removed his cleats, appearing done for the day, then gambled. He went for the record.

His second run clocked 4.21 seconds—a new record. As Lucas Oil Stadium's scoreboards confirmed the time, Worthy sprinted around the facility celebrating with other prospects watching.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed him before the 2024 season.