Quarterbacks prevented an all-time achievement at the 2026 Combine originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There are certain aspects to every sport or sporting event that fans look for. In baseball, it could be a home run or a well-executed double play. In basketball, it has become the 3-point shot. For the NFL Scouting Combine, it's almost always speed. Specifically, 40 times.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFans want to see speed. They want people to run times not thought possible. In 2008, when East Carolina's Chris Johnson ran a 4.24 forty at the Combine, it was a story for months. Two years earlier, Maryland TE Vernon Davis ran a 4.38. Thought of as virtually impossible for a tight end at that time.
The 2026 Combine invitees had an opportunity to not only lean into to sports’ fan’s affection for speed, but they also almost set a record. A one-line reference that could only be said if it applied to each and every position group. Could this be the fastest Combine of all time?
The run to history began on Thursday with the defensive lineman and linebackers. By the end of the day, the DL and LB group were the fastest ever recorded at the Combine.
By the end of Day 2, the defensive backs and tight Ends were the same. The fastest times for that collective group in Combine history. On Sunday, they wrapped up Day 4 with offensive lineman. Who also were the fastest OL group in Combine history.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs for Saturday, the eider eceivers and running backs did their part. You guessed it, the WRs and RBs were also the fastest group in recorded Combine history. The issue is, the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine as a whole cannot claim it was the fastest Combine of all time.
Quarterbacks prevented history
As has often been said about the quarterback position, they get too much of the credit when they win and too much of the blame when they lose. All factors considered, this historical missed opportunity is completely the fault of the quarterbacks.
As Rich Eisen reported throughout Day 4 of the Combine, due to the combined average of quarterback 40 times, the collective group will fall short of making speed history.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere is a reason to point to. The obvious conclusion would be that most quarterbacks aren’t great runners. One could argue that if there were 20 Louisville Lamar Jackson's and 20 Virginia Tech Michael Vick's, this achievement would have been easier. However, if we keep digging, we’ll find the culprit.
Imagine what it would have looked like if all the Drew Allar types ran. The speed numbers would have dropped lower than they did. Yes, but think of it the other way. What would those numbers look like if Ty Simpson, Carson Beck, Joey Aguilar, and others who have shown an ability to run, ran?
The issue is not that this class of quarterbacks were abnormally slow. It's that the Combine has a participation problem. There were 16 quarterbacks invited to the Combine. Seven of them ran in their 40s. Of those seven, only two were over 4.65. Luke Altmyer’s 4.72 and Joe Fagnano’s 4.83. Included were Taylen Green’s 4.36 and Haynes King’s 4.46.
Just imagine what that could have looked like if most of the quarterbacks ran. To take that a step further, nine quarterbacks declined to run.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHad those nine spots that resulted in opting out of the 40 went to alternates invited after players declared they would not run, this could have been significantly different. Just imagine if Tommy Castellanos, Miller Moss, Jake Retzlaff, Kryon Drones or other somewhat mobile quarterbacks had been invited in addition to those that were.
This group could have made that history. The reason they didn't comes down to participation. Not cement-footed quarterbacks.
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