The NFL Scouting Combine if officially upon us and a significant development has emerged: five head coaches have decided to skip the event in Indianapolis.
That may sound crazy, but it’s true.
The five coaches are Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys, Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams, Robert Saleh of the New York Jets, Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers, and Kyle Shanahan of the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers.
Matt LeFleur, Sean McVay headline list of coaches not attending NFL Draft Combine https://t.co/aBKXKzVR1B pic.twitter.com/uXlANfG74W
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) February 26, 2024
According to Pro Football Talk, the five coaches believe attending the combine in person isn’t worth the disruption to their offseason routines.
While acknowledging the value of the medical assessments conducted at the combine, they view the rest of the event as unnecessary spectacle.
Absolutely disagree. With fewer head coaches attending the Combine in recent years, and considering who else has not run the gamut there, the looming question is how valid the Combine is at all. Wasn't it just a medical info exchange at first?
— Ken McManus (@kokoken53) February 26, 2024
“For the head coach, it’s a major disruption to his offseason routine. And some view it as unnecessary. All of the workouts are filmed, and the head coach can participate in the formal, 15-minute interviews by Zoom,” PFT reported.
“The biggest value is in the medical information gleaned from one set of tests performed on all of the prospects in one place at one time. Some coaches see the rest of it as a circus and a waste of time.”
Combine is a fraud. Does more harm than good in most cases.
— Anthony Capozzolo (@AnthonyCapozzo3) February 26, 2024
This move by the coaches raises questions about the future of the NFL Scouting Combine. While it remains a cornerstone of the NFL offseason, the absence of key decision-makers like head coaches could signal a shift in its significance.
As technology continues to advance and remote methods of evaluation become more commonplace, the traditional model of the combine may face challenges in retaining its relevance.
Every major program hosts their own Pro Day, which most – if not every – NFL team attends … These Pro Days seem to be becoming more and more important as years go on.
However, it’s hard to imagine the Scouting Combine ever losing its true significance.
While it’s true that nowadays many tasks can be completed remotely, there are certain parts of the evaluation process that can’t be replicated through technology.
Another loss for the Cowboys bro
— The Paulie and Tony Fusco Show (@TheFuscoShow) February 27, 2024
While McCarthy, McVay, Saleh, LaFleur and Shanahan may find the Combine to be a waste of time, clearly the other head coaches still find value in it.
But will others follow this “trend” in the future?
Or will the in-person importance of the Combine simply never go away?
Obviously, every single team is well-represented in Indianapolis, but not having your head coach there does seem a little strange…