When you think about the NFL Combine, you usually picture high-stakes drills, guys in spandex, and scouts scribbling on clipboards. It's the ultimate job interview. But for Chris Jones, the 2016 NFL Combine wasn't just about his 40-yard dash time or his vertical leap. It became the site of the most infamous—and surprisingly human—moment in the history of the event.
You probably know the clip. If you’ve been on the internet in the last decade, you’ve definitely seen it.
Jones, a mountain of a man out of Mississippi State, was mid-sprint when his equipment… well, it failed. Significantly. Most guys would have been mortified. They would have ducked into the locker room and never spoken of it again. Not Chris. He basically laughed it off, dove to the turf, and eventually turned it into a footnote in a Hall of Fame-caliber career.
But honestly, focusing only on the "wardrobe malfunction" ignores the fact that Jones was a physical freak who absolutely dominated the measurable portion of the week.
The Numbers Behind the Chris Jones NFL Combine Performance
Before the "incident" at the finish line, scouts were drooling over Jones’ frame. He measured in at a massive 6'5 ¾" and 310 pounds. That’s a big human. But it wasn't just the height. His arms were 34 ½ inches long. In the world of defensive tackles, that length is a cheat code. It's the difference between getting blocked and being able to discard an offensive lineman like a piece of trash.
His workout stats were actually elite, even if they've been overshadowed by the viral video.
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He put up 26 reps on the bench press. That’s 225 pounds moving like it’s a bag of groceries. His 40-yard dash clocked in at 5.03 seconds. For a 310-pounder, that is moving. Most people his size struggle to crack 5.2. He also posted a 29.5-inch vertical and a 106-inch broad jump.
Basically, he was a massive, explosive athlete who just happened to choose the wrong pair of "tights."
Why the Tights Mattered (And No, Not Like That)
Jones later revealed the truth about those black leggings. They weren't actually compression tights. He had grabbed a pair of boxers from his "swag bag" of gear from Under Armour and Nike, thinking they’d make him look faster.
"I looked down and the hummer is out," Jones told Sports Illustrated a year later.
He tried to cover it up mid-stride. He actually slowed down at the 15-yard mark because he felt things... shifting. Despite essentially running a 40-yard dash while trying to hold his clothes together, he still finished with one of the fastest times for a defensive tackle that year.
It’s actually a testament to his coordination. Most people would have tripped and face-planted. He just took a graceful dive at the end and laughed about it with the trainers.
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How the Combine "Disaster" Actually Helped Him
You’d think a moment like that would hurt a guy's draft stock. NFL teams are notoriously "old school" and obsessed with "professionalism." But with Chris Jones, it did the opposite.
Scouts loved the way he handled it.
Instead of being rattled, he was loose. He was the "embarrassment king," as he called himself. It showed a level of confidence and personality that teams, specifically the Kansas City Chiefs, found endearing. It proved he could handle pressure and unexpected chaos with a smile.
The Chiefs ended up taking him 37th overall in the second round.
The Scouting Report vs. Reality
Heading into the 2016 draft, the knock on Jones wasn't his speed or his wardrobe choice. It was his "motor." Scouts at WalterFootball and PFF noted that he sometimes looked like he was taking plays off at Mississippi State. They called him an "underachiever" who lacked consistency.
Boy, were they wrong.
Since that day in Indianapolis, Jones has become the gold standard for interior pass rushers. He’s a 3-time Super Bowl champion. He has over 75 career sacks. In 2024, he signed a massive 5-year, $158.75 million contract extension.
That "underachiever" is now the highest-paid defensive tackle in the history of the league.
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What Most People Get Wrong About 2016
The biggest misconception is that the Chris Jones NFL Combine story is just a joke. It’s not. It was the first time the world saw the traits that make him a nightmare for quarterbacks today:
- Elite First Step: His 10-yard split was 1.70 seconds. That's how he gets into the backfield before a guard can even blink.
- Massive Wing Span: That 7'1" wingspan he showed off in Indy is why he bats down so many passes at the line of scrimmage.
- Mental Toughness: If you can survive the entire world seeing your "business" on national TV and still become an All-Pro, a double-team from the Raiders isn't going to phase you.
Actionable Insights for Draft Fans and Athletes
If you're looking back at the Chris Jones story to understand how the NFL evaluates talent, here are the real takeaways:
- Context is Everything: If a player has a "bad" drill, look at why. Jones slowed down to cover himself and still ran a 5.03. That's a speed win, not a loss.
- Personality Matters: Teams aren't just drafting a Madden stat sheet; they’re drafting a teammate. Jones' ability to laugh at himself showed he'd fit perfectly into a high-pressure locker room like Andy Reid's.
- Physical Traits Don't Lie: You can teach a guy a swim move. You can't teach 34-inch arms. Teams will always bet on the physical outlier, even if the college production is "inconsistent."
Chris Jones proved that you can have the most embarrassing moment of your life on the biggest stage and still come out as a winner. He didn't let one awkward sprint define him. Instead, he used it as a springboard to become one of the most dominant forces the NFL has ever seen.
For anyone heading into a high-pressure interview or an athletic evaluation, take a page out of the Chris Jones playbook: be yourself, move fast, and if things go sideways, just dive into the grass and keep smiling.
Next Steps for You: To see how Jones' athleticism translated to the field, compare his 2016 numbers to his most recent season stats. You'll notice his sack production often correlates with that "explosive get-off" scouts first clocked during his 10-yard split in Indy. Keeping an eye on 40-yard dash times for 300-pounders in the upcoming combine is the best way to spot the "next Chris Jones" before they become a household name.