The NFL Network’s Enduringly Playful Taunt: Patrick Mahomes’ 40-Yard Dash and the 2025 Combine
The annual NFL Combine is a spectacle, a four-day extravaganza of athleticism where college prospects showcase their skills, hoping to impress scouts and solidify their draft stock. It’s a pressure cooker, a performance stage, and a breeding ground for narratives that shape the football landscape. Among the drills, interviews, and medical evaluations, one event consistently captivates audiences: the 40-yard dash. This burst of speed, measured in fractions of a second, can dramatically alter perceptions and influence draft decisions.
And as NFL Network gears up to broadcast the 2025 NFL Combine live from Indianapolis, fans can anticipate not only the excitement of witnessing future stars in action but also the return of a recurring, lighthearted gag that has become a staple of the network’s coverage: the comparative overlay of Patrick Mahomes’ 40-yard dash time.
The NFL Network’s production team has, in recent years, developed a technique of superimposing the 40-yard dash runs of multiple players onto the screen simultaneously, creating a visual comparison of their speed and acceleration. This "Simulcam," as it might be called, serves a legitimate purpose. It allows analysts to highlight exceptional speed, compare players at similar positions, and contrast college athletes with established NFL stars, offering viewers a clear and immediate understanding of their relative athleticism.
However, the NFL Network has also found a more playful application for this technology: poking fun at one of the league’s most prominent and successful quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes. The joke centers on Mahomes’ relatively unremarkable 40-yard dash time of 4.8 seconds, recorded at the 2017 NFL Combine. While not disastrous, this time is hardly indicative of the elite athleticism Mahomes displays on the field, improvising plays and extending drives with his agility and arm talent.
The humor arises from comparing Mahomes’ time to those of much larger, heavier players, particularly defensive linemen. In recent years, several defensive linemen, tipping the scales at well over 275 pounds, have managed to eclipse Mahomes’ 4.8-second mark, creating a humorous juxtaposition between the quarterback’s finesse and the linemen’s raw power and surprising speed. The visual of these behemoths blazing down the track faster than Mahomes, a quarterback celebrated for his mobility, is inherently amusing.
The narrative began in earnest during the 2022 NFL Combine broadcast. While showcasing the impressive speed of quarterback Desmond Ridder, NFL Network superimposed his run alongside those of Marcus Mariota and Russell Wilson, both known for their running ability. Then, somewhat inexplicably, Mahomes was added to the mix. His 4.8-second time lagged significantly behind the others, creating a stark contrast and prompting Mahomes himself to respond with a lighthearted jab on social media.
This seemingly spontaneous moment ignited a playful "feud" between Mahomes and the NFL Network, transforming into a recurring theme in the network’s combine coverage. Prior to the 2024 NFL Combine, Mahomes jokingly pleaded with the network to refrain from using his 40-yard dash overlay, but his request was, of course, ignored.
Instead, the NFL Network doubled down, using the overlay even more frequently and highlighting the times of incredibly large defensive linemen who outpaced Mahomes. The examples included the run of Braden Fiske, weighing in at 292 pounds, and the run of TVondre Sweat who stands at a colossal 366 pounds. The sight of these massive athletes surpassing Mahomes’ time generated considerable amusement online, and Mahomes himself responded with a simple GIF, acknowledging the ongoing jest.
The enduring appeal of this running joke lies in the contrast between Mahomes’ on-field performance and his combine results. He is a two-time Super Bowl MVP, a three-time Super Bowl champion, and one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in NFL history. His success is built on more than just raw speed; it’s a combination of intelligence, arm talent, improvisation, and leadership. Therefore, his less-than-stellar 40-yard dash time becomes a humorous anomaly, a reminder that combine numbers don’t always tell the whole story. It humanizes a player who often seems superhuman on the field.
The situation also showcases Mahomes’ good humor and willingness to engage with fans and the media. He has consistently taken the ribbing in stride, responding with wit and charm, further endearing him to the football world. His playful interactions with NFL Network have added an extra layer of entertainment to the combine broadcast, making it more than just a showcase of athleticism; it’s become a source of lighthearted amusement.
Looking ahead to the 2025 NFL Combine, it’s almost certain that the NFL Network will once again trot out the Mahomes 40-yard dash overlay. It’s become a tradition, an inside joke that fans have come to expect and enjoy. The question isn’t whether they will use it, but how creatively they will deploy it. Will they compare Mahomes’ time to even larger linemen? Will they find new and inventive ways to highlight the disparity?
Regardless of the specifics, one thing is clear: the playful "feud" between Patrick Mahomes and the NFL Network is likely to continue, adding another chapter to this friendly rivalry. As prospects sprint down the track in Indianapolis, their dreams hanging in the balance, the ghost of Mahomes’ 4.8-second run will undoubtedly be lurking in the background, ready to provide a moment of levity and remind us that even the greatest players have their moments of humility. The 2025 NFL Combine promises to be another exciting event, filled with athletic feats and, thanks to the NFL Network’s enduring gag, a healthy dose of laughter at the expense of a certain Kansas City Chiefs quarterback. The football world will be watching, ready to see if Mahomes has a new comeback to the ribbing, or just another GIF.
