In a joint announcement on Thursday, the NFL and the city of Indianapolis confirmed that the NFL Scouting Combine will remain in its familiar setting until at least 2025, showcasing a commitment to the longstanding partnership between the league and the city.
Having been hosted in Indianapolis since 1987, the city has become the preferred destination for the NFL community, offering a centralized downtown, multiple hotels, a robust medical infrastructure, and a sense of familiarity that has contributed to the event’s success.
While the NFL had contemplated moving the combine from Indianapolis in recent years, the city successfully secured the hosting rights for the 2023 and 2024 combines through a bidding process initiated in 2021.
NFL EVP Peter O’Reilly expressed enthusiasm about the continued collaboration, stating, “Indianapolis has a storied history with the NFL combine, so we are thrilled to continue partnering with Visit Indy, the Indianapolis Colts, and our local partners for the event in 2025.” O’Reilly also commended the city’s innovative approach in enhancing both the football evaluation process and the in-person experience for fans.
While it remains uncertain if any other cities submitted bids for the 2025 combine, there were previous expressions of interest from Dallas and Los Angeles. However, recent sources suggest that the Phoenix and Minneapolis areas have emerged as potential bidders for upcoming combines.
The scouting community has consistently favored keeping the combine in Indianapolis, appreciating the city’s conducive environment for player evaluations. However, the NFL, evolving into a year-round league, seeks to maximize opportunities, drawing inspiration from the success of rotating events like the NFL Draft.
Recent years have witnessed significant changes to the combine, with 2022 seeing alterations to participants’ schedules and the introduction of body scans as a potential replacement for the manual evaluation system. Additionally, teams were reminded of substantial penalties for posing inappropriate questions during the event in the previous year. As the NFL Scouting Combine continues to evolve, its legacy in Indianapolis persists, with the city set to host this crucial event until at least 2025.