The season respawns, with neither bang nor whimper but a three-cone drill. We last saw pro football in its Super Bowl glow, but everything resets with the annual NFL Scouting Combine. Scouts and prospects link up in Indianapolis, home to the combine since 1987.
Players are evaluated on everything from vertical jumping ability to hypothetical pilot skills and their opinions on birds. Stocks rise and fall with the weekend’s results in workouts such as the 40-yard dash and broad jump. Here’s how to watch various position groups, which get live on-field coverage between Thursday and Sunday.
How to watch the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
- Venues: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indiana Convention Center — Indianapolis
- Dates: Feb. 26-March 1
- TV: NFL Network
| Positions | Time (ET) | TV | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
|
DL, LB |
3 p.m., Thu. |
NFLN |
|
|
DB, TE |
3 p.m., Fri. |
NFLN |
|
|
QB, WR, RB |
1 p.m., Sat. |
NFLN |
|
|
OL |
1 p.m., Sun. |
NFLN |
NFL Network is also available on NFL+.
To lead into the event, NFL Network has an on-site program called “The Insiders at the Combine.” Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo, Tom Pelissero and Judy Battista dispatch updates and intel around the draft. That show kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on Monday and Wednesday, with an earlier 6 p.m. start for Tuesday.
Live on-field workouts run Thursday through Sunday. Daniel Jeremiah and Rich Eisen anchor the coverage. “NFL Combine Today” with Rhett Lewis and Bucky Brooks begins one hour before each day’s live workout.
There are four total groups, cycling through a five-day itinerary that includes team interviews, media interviews, medical evaluations and on-field drills. NFL general managers and coaches will also be on hand to talk to the media and get one-on-one time with the prospects.
Daily schedule of events
Tuesday, Feb. 24
- NFL general managers and head coaches media availability, Part 1
Wednesday, Feb. 25
- NFL general managers and head coaches media availability, Part 2
- K, DL, LB media interviews
Thursday, Feb. 26
- K, DL, LB measurements and on-field workouts
- DB, TE media interviews
Friday, Feb. 27
- DB, TE measurements and on-field workouts
- QB, RB, WR media interviews
Saturday, Feb. 28
- QB, RB, WR measurements and on-field workouts
- OL media interviews
Sunday, March 1
- OL measurements and on-field workouts
The players at this year’s combine
More than 300 prospects were invited to the 2026 combine; the full list can be found here. Texas A&M leads all schools with 13 players. Among the standouts are shifty wideout KC Concepcion and barreling edge rusher Cashius Howell.
Alabama has the second-most invitees with a dozen. The pro-bound Crimson Tide are fronted by QB Ty Simpson, who threw 28 touchdowns to five interceptions in his final collegiate season.
Ohio State and LSU each earned 11 invites, while Miami, Georgia and Oklahoma have 10 apiece. The Hurricanes could have two high picks in offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa and sack artist Rueben Bain Jr. The Buckeyes defense might have three with safety Caleb Downs and linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles.
Indiana, fresh off its historic national title run, sends nine players an hour north to Indianapolis. Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza is the headliner as the likely No. 1 pick, though he is not expected to throw with the other quarterbacks.
A quick look back at a few notable performances
It might not be the most glamorous event, but the NFL combine has real payoff for viewers following a player’s journey. Brian Urlacher famously turned heads at the 2000 combine, and the Hall of Fame linebacker was still listed as a safety back then.
Orlando Brown Jr. went viral for the self-described “worst combine in NFL history.” He dropped in the 2018 draft, falling to the Baltimore Ravens in the third round. He then improved all the way to four Pro Bowls and a championship ring, won with the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.
Current Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy instantly boosted his profile with a record-setting 40-yard dash time in 2024. He was drafted in the first round and led his team in receiving touchdowns as a rookie.
NFL Draft coverage from The Athletic
Our beat reporters did a first-round mock draft:
“After fielding some trade offers, nothing came close to moving me. The Raiders have to finally take a quarterback in the first round, something they haven’t done since JaMarcus Russell. Mendoza projects as a great fit in Klint Kubiak’s offense and, hopefully, signals a new era of stability for this franchise.” — Ted Nguyen
Austin Mock rounded up consensus rankings:
“Mendoza has taken over the top spot from Arvell Reese on the consensus board, but I’m not confident Reese will be the first defensive player selected. Though the Ohio State standout could be an edge rusher in the NFL, some have him slotted as an off-ball linebacker — and that’s why he may slip behind some of his defensive counterparts. Some teams simply won’t want to invest a high draft pick on a player who may play off the ball.”
Nick Baumgardner broke down the quarterbacks:
“Simpson has first-round gifts, athletically and mentally, but it’s hard to say that he’s ready to lead an NFL offense next season. Still, he is a top-40 player this cycle, and one who could easily slide into the first round — perhaps even well into Round 1 — if he impresses at the combine.”
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