Taking a break from scouting the next generation of talent at the 2025 NFL Combine, NFL head coaches debated which of their peers could put up the most reps on the bench press.
Dan Campbell is the Consensus Choice for the Strongest NFL Coach
Aditi Kinkhabwala, an NFL reporter at CBS Sports, asked a group of head coaches which of them would notch the most reps on the 225-pound bench press. The coaches came to a consensus with a few outliers.
Which NFL head coach is the most jacked? 🤔💪@AKinkhabwala asked them who would put up the most reps on the bench press to find out 👀 pic.twitter.com/RdDwhUe2Bo
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) February 27, 2025
“Off the top of my head, I want to say Dan Campbell,” said Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles. Bowles wasn’t the only coach betting on Campbell; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales, and Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott all agreed that the Lions’ head coach would prove to be the NFL’s strongest head coach.
Campbell, a former NFL tight end with a strong stature at 6’5”, 265 pounds, is an obvious choice for the strongest NFL coach
“I gotta go with DeMeco [Ryans] still,” said Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, who coached Campell during his playing career. “I’ve been with Dan long enough to know there is an injury risk.”
“DeMeco’s not lifting anymore, man. DeMeco’s a family man. There’s no chance,” said Morris.
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald was the only coach to choose himself in a display of confidence. “How can I not bet on myself?” asked Macdonald. “I’ll throw my name in the ring.”
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was also named a potential competitor to Campbell by his peers, while Rams head coach Sean McVay was also named a “sleeper.”
“I gotta go with Mike Vrabel right now, I think,” said Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn. Upon being told nobody voted for him, Quinn hilariously replied, “I know it.”
Which 2025 NFL Draft Prospects Performed Best on the Bench Press?
The following draft prospects have posted the highest totals on the bench press at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. You can track further testing results for the entire draft class using PFSN’s Combine Tracker.
- Ethan Downs, EDGE, Oklahoma: 32
2. Jordan Phillips, DL, Maryland: 29
(T)3. Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall: 28
(T)3. Sean Martin, DL, West Virginia: 28
(T)3. Barryn Sorrell, EDGE, Texas: 28
(T)3. Darrius Alexander, DL, Toledo: 28
(T)3. Eric Gregory, DL, Arkansas: 28
(T)3. Ty Robinson, DL, Nebraska: 28
(T)8. Tyler Batty, EDGE, BYU: 27
(T)8. Ahmed Hassanein, EDGE, Boise State: 27
(T)8. Kaimon Rucker, EDGE, North Carolina: 27
In the 1999 NFL Scouting Combine, Campbell, as a tight end prospect out of Texas A&M, completed 25 reps on the bench press, putting him on par with some of today’s strongest prospects. It is safe to say his fellow NFL coaches were right to choose him as the league’s strongest head coach.