The best QB bench press results at the NFL Combine are not held by great passers. In fact, your career is probably already doomed if you’re participating in it. That isn’t a universal truth, however. One NFL MVP winning quarterback did take part. You’ll need to keep reading to find out who.
Since 1987, which was the first year the event was held in Indianapolis under its current format, 44 quarterbacks have performed the bench press at the NFL Combine. Of this group, only 11 managed to do 20 or more reps which is impressive from a purely physical standpoint. However, it is not really relevant for the position.
In fact, those who do throw up the 225-pound bar fall into one of three categories. They are either prospects with nothing to lose, moving to a new position or simply like lifting. But who was the strongest? Let’s find out who holds the record for the best QB bench press at the NFL Combine.
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10 best QB bench press results at the NFL Combine
Daryll Clark – 21 (2010)
Daryll Clark was a really good quarterback for Penn State and even left College Park as the school’s all-time passing touchdowns leader. After his 21-rep performance at the 2010 NFL Combine, he went undrafted and didn’t do much as a professional apart from a training camp appearance with Washington.
Adrian McPherson – 22 (2005)
Most people know Adrian McPherson as the guy who stole a check to pay off gambling debts accumulated when he bet on Florida State as the team’s starting passer. Nearly two years after pleading no contest to those charges, he got a shot and proceeded to record the best QB bench press result in NFL Combine history at that point in time.
He was eventual drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round. The highlight of McPherson’s short NFL run was being hit by a golf cart driven by the Tennessee Titans mascot during a preseason game.
Tarvaris Jackson – 22 (2006)
The late Tarvaris Jackson was the quintessential low-end starter, high-end backup quarterback. He played in the league for nearly a decade and was serviceable. In addition to his 22-rep bench press, Jackson ran a 4.69 40-yard dash…nice.
Isaiah Stanback – 22 (2007)
Isaiah Stanback makes the list as a passer, although everyone knew he was going to be converted to wide receiver at the next level. He was actually drafted in the fourth round by the Dallas Cowboys despite never playing the position and being part of some truly terrible Washington Huskies teams.
Eric Dungey – 22 (2019)
As a rugged college quarterback, Eric Dungey helped lead Syracuse to a 10-3 season in his senior season. That being said, no one expected him to make it at the next level and that has proven to be true. He is currently the last signal caller to perform the bench press at the NFL Combine.
Max Browne – 23 (2018)
Coming out of high school, Max Browne was an elite prospect who had offers from Oklahoma, Alabama and USC, with the quarterback opting to attend the latter. Unfortunately, he found himself behind Cody Kessler and then Sam Darnold before heading to Pitt as a grad transfer.
Browne saw the field in a few games for the Panthers but injured his shoulder and missed most of the season. Despite a lackluster college career, he was invited to the NFL Combine where his bench press result was the only positive takeaway.
Jay Cutler – 23 (2006)
It is kind of crazy to think Jay Cutler lifted 225 lbs. some 23 times. I was “blindsided” to learn he managed to bench more than Michael Oher in 2006. Now the bad jokes are out of the way, it’s important to note that the Vanderbilt product is arguably the most statistically successful quarterback to have participated in the bench press at the NFL combine. Somehow this wasn’t included in his combine highlights video.
For the record, we did check to make sure Jay Cutler the football player didn’t switch places with Jay Cutler the bodybuilder for his bench press.
Brady Quinn – 24 (2007)
Brady Quinn came along the next year and beat Cutler by one rep. This was less surprising than Cutler’s performance because Quinn was already known as a body guy coming out of Notre Dame. There was even some concern his physique would hinder his ability to be an NFL quarterback. His muscles didn’t hold him back as a pro, but his lack of pocket awareness sure did.
Rhett Bomar – 25 (2009)
Rhett Bomar started his college career at Oklahoma but was kicked off the team for collecting a paycheck from a car dealership in Norman despite not actually working there. These days that’s called an NIL deal, but I digress.
Bomar ended up at Sam Houston State for his final two seasons. In Indianapolis, the quarterback put up 25 reps which was good enough for second on this list and runner-up in his draft class. The former Sooners quarterback’s total is pretty crazy when you think about some of the players he managed to out lift. Gerald McCoy (23), Alan Faneca (20) and Le’Veon Bell (24) are just a few of the All-Pros who did fewer reps than Bomar at the NFL Combine.
Jason Boltus – 26 (2009)
We mentioned Bomar held the second best QB bench press result in NFL Combine history as well as in the 2009 draft class. That’s because little-know DIII passer Jason Boltus came along and jacked up 26 reps. Of course, you probably aren’t familiar with the player who also punted at Hartwick College.
However, he was extremely prolific for the Hawks and finished his collegiate career holding the DIII record for passing yards and third for passing touchdowns among a whole host of other records. This was enough to get him in the door at the combine.
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From bench press to MVP
Earlier, we mentioned only one quarterback won the NFL MVP and participated in the bench press at the NFL combine. That was Rich Gannon who only managed seven reps, but would go on to capture the award in 2002.
