NFL Combine to remain in Indianapolis through 2026, tourism officials announce

Indianapolis tourism officials from Visit Indy have announced that the NFL Combine is set to remain in the city through 2026.

Visit Indy is bringing the NFL Combine back to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in partnership with the Indianapolis Colts and the Indiana Sports Corp. The Indiana Sports Corp is a sports commission based out of Indianapolis.

That will include the next two NFL Combines, with the next one of those being for the 2025 NFL Draft. That will be held from February 27th through March 2nd in 2025.

In the previous agreement to host the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, the deal would have ended with the next one in 2025. So, this is an extension by one year of the deal in place.

Widely regarded as the largest scouting event ahead of the NFL Draft, the NFL Combine brings players entering the draft from around the country together to show off their skills in what has been described as a type of job interview. The first year of the NFL Combine was in 1977 and it’s been held in Indianapolis since 1987.

In a typical year, about 330 college football players will be sent invitations to attend the NFL Combine. Of those, about 250 are sent before bowl games. However, underclassmen who choose to go pro early typically leads to a staggering of when invitations are sent out.

Prior to the NFL Combine coming to Indianapolis, it has been held in different variations in a couple of locations. There was a National Invitational Camp held in Tampa every year. It was also held in New Orleans and Arizona at different times.

The NFL Combine includes testing players in different position groups to get a gauge of their capabilities as athletes. That includes some notable events like the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, and bench press. Players also undergo position-specific drills that help teams get an idea on the draftees’ skill-sets. There are also individual interviews with players and teams.

This new agreement to host the NFL Combine in Indianapolis isn’t a long-term deal. However, it does give all the sides involved more time for the opportunity to continue to work on the future of the event.