Who Can Bench The Most In The NFL?

Can you bench more than an NFL player? Find out who the strongest players are in the league when it comes to this classic exercise.

Introduction

In the NFL, the player who can bench the most is often considered to be the strongest. This isn’t always the case, but it’s a good way to compare players’ strength. There are a few different ways to measure strength, but for this article, we’ll be looking at the bench press.

The bench press is a measure of how much weight a player can lift in one rep. It’s a good way to compare players because it’s a relatively simple exercise and one that requires little equipment.

There are a few things to keep in mind when looking at the bench press numbers. First, players aren’t required to max out on the bench press at the NFL Combine. They’re only asked to do as many reps as they can at 225 pounds. Second, players who are shorter and/or lighter will typically have an advantage over taller and/or heavier players. And finally, some players may not be trying to max out on the bench press, instead using it as a way to show off their strength and impress scouts.

With all of that said, here are the top 10 bench pressers in NFL history:

1. Stephen Paea – 49 reps
2. Justin Ernest – 45 reps
3.Jimmy Williams – 44 reps
4. Steve McLendon – 43 reps
5.(tie) Dontari Poe and Corey Liuget – 42 reps each
7.(tie) Brandon Mebane and Derrick Lowdermilk – 41 reps each
9.(tie) Jay Ratliff and Mike Kudla – 40 reps each

The NFL’s Strongest Players

In the NFL, the bench press is a measure of strength. The Combine uses the bench press to evaluate incoming NFL hopefuls. The current NFL Combine bench press record is 51 reps of 225 pounds by Justin Ernest of Eastern Kentucky in 1999. But who are the strongest NFL players when it comes to bench pressing?

J.J. Watt

At the top of our list is Houston Texans’ Defensive End, J.J. Watt. He’s a 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and a 5-time Pro Bowler. He’s also been voted 1st-team All-Pro 4 times. In short, the guy is a beast, on and off the field.

In the weight room, his numbers are impressive: He can bench press 225 pounds 41 times. He also has a 655-pound deadlift and a 350-pound power clean to his credit.

Shaquil Barrett

Currently, Shaquil Barrett of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers holds the NFL’s bench press record with 45 repetitions of 225 pounds.

Cameron Jordan

Cameron Jordan is an American football defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Saints in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at California, where he earned consensus All-American honors.

As a rookie in 2011, Jordan started all 16 regular season games and recorded 62 tackles, eight sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. For his performance, he was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team. In 2012, he was selected to his first Pro Bowl after recording 12.5 sacks and helping the Saints to a 13-3 record and an NFC South divisional championship. In 2015, Jordan recorded 10.5 sacks en route to his first career First-Team All-Pro selection and helped lead the Saints to an NFC wild card berth. The following year, he helped the team return to the playoffs after a one-year absence with another 7 sacks despite playing through illness during much of the season. In 2017, he had another Pro Bowl season with 13 sacks before being placed on injured reserve in December due to a foot injury that required surgery.

The NFL’s Most Impressive Bench Press Numbers

Shaquil Barrett – 225 pounds

Shaquil Barrett of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers holds the NFL’s bench press record with an impressive 225 pounds. He set the record in May of 2014 at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Barrett is a linebacker who was drafted by the Bucs in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He has played for Tampa Bay his entire career, and has been a key part of their defense. In 2019, he was named a Pro Bowl alternate and was also awarded the NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 3.

At 6’2″ and 250 pounds, Barrett is a physically imposing player. His bench press record is a testament to his strength and explosiveness.

J.J. Watt – 225 pounds

For years, 225 pounds has been considered the standard for a good bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine. But that number has been creeping up in recent years, as players get bigger and stronger. In 2015, 24 players lifted 225 pounds or more. This year, there were 33 players who accomplished that feat.

J.J. Watt, who is 6-foot-5 and 289 pounds, benched 225 pounds 35 times at his pro day in 2011. That’s impressive enough on its own, but what’s even more impressive is that Watt did it while wearing a 40-pound weight vest. So essentially, he was bench pressing 265 pounds — the equivalent of two NFL quarterbacks.

Cameron Jordan – 225 pounds

Cameron Jordan is a Defensive End for the New Orleans Saints, and he is also one of the strongest players in the NFL. He can bench press 225 pounds an impressive 42 times. That’s almost 10 times his body weight!

Conclusion

So who can bench the most in the NFL? The answer may surprise you. It’s not always the biggest and strongest guys who can lift the most weight. Sometimes, it’s the guys who are smartest about their training and diets who can put up the biggest numbers.