When watching NFL games and the athleticism those players show night after night, you can’t help but wonder; do football players jump higher than NBA players!?
Even though most NFL players couldn’t cut it in the NBA and vice versa, and comparing these two sports could seem like comparing apples to oranges, we can compare their athletic numbers.
There are no world competitions that pit the world’s best jumpers against each other, and vertical jumping as you can isn’t an Olympic event like the 100-meter sprint. As a result, no official records from sports federations or committees are available.
However, we can get a ballpark figure by looking at the NFL Combine and NBA Draft. After all, these are some of the world’s most talented athletes.
Unlike basketball, where there is bound to be a more variant distribution of athletic ability, NFL players don’t have as much variability. In basketball, you can get away with being very skilled instead of athletic.
Being skilled doesn’t make up for not being athletic in the NFL. That’s why people retire in the NFL earlier because they lack the physical athleticism to keep up with the young players when they turn 30 (not including some skilled positions like QB or even some lineman positions).
You cannot make up athleticism with skill as an NFL player. You can’t be Michael Jordan and turn into a tactical jump shooter at an older age. You have to outrun the Corner Back, jump and catch the ball. You do have to learn the routes and attain a decent level of skill, but not it’s not the same as other sports.
But without further ado, let’s take a look at the numbers!
Why Do Football Players Jump Higher Than Basketball Players?
The NBA combine does very similar tests as the NFL combine. NBA has vertical jump, lane agility, 3/4 court sprint, and the bench press. The NFL has vertical, three-cone, 40/shuttle run, and bench press.
Prospects have a standing vertical jump and a running vertical jump at the NBA combine. It’s just a standing vertical jump at the NFL combine.
A player’s running vert is 6.029 inches higher than his standing vertical.
After seeing the vertical jump numbers, I had only one thought: I wish the NFL had a slam dunk contest.
Football players jump higher than basketball players, according to our research, and here’s why:
Because the rim is always 10 feet high, basketball players do not need to jump that high. At 6 feet tall, you could dunk from a standstill with a 33-34 inch standing vertical.
Most dunks include a run-up, so you’ll be jumping higher anyway. Finally, very tall players (which abound in the NBA) are unlikely to benefit as much from a huge leap.
Football players, on the other hand, prepare for explosiveness. Football players are primarily concerned with bursts of explosive activity. For an NFL player, ‘explosive’ statistics like the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, and vertical jump are crucial.
When we examine the NBA combine, we see that a player’s vertical standing vert is anywhere from 4 to 9 inches higher than their vertical running vert. Given that the best NFL players have a standing vertical of 45-46 inches, I believe they could easily reach 50-52 inches with a run-up.
NFL players are among the most genetically talented people on the planet, but they don’t focus their training solely on their vertical leap. As a result, a standing vertical of 47-48′′ isn’t completely implausible.
The Slam Dunk Contest is one of my favorite sporting events to watch, and you don’t need NBA skills to win. Size, length, and athleticism are all that are required.
And after comparing these athletes’ vertical jumps, I can’t help but imagine how incredible it would be to see NFL players put their talents on display. The NFL’s statistics are astounding.
Football Players Jump Super High
The highest standing vertical jump on record at the NBA combine is 38 inches, set by Dwayne Mitchell in 2012 and Justin Anderson in 2015. At the most recent NFL combine, 18 players had standing vertical jumps greater than 38 inches!
The highest jump ever? At the 2005 NFL combine, Gerald Sensabaugh had an astonishing 46-inch vertical jump. Actually, 46 inches is higher than Kenny Gregory’s 45.5-inch jump for the highest running vertical in NBA history.
I’m sure Sensabaugh could hit 50-inch running vert. Both Chris Chambers and Donald Washington have verticals of 45 inches. The most amazing aspect of the NFL’s statistics is how great they stand up to the test of time.
Mario Williams, who’s 6’6” tall and weighs 290 pounds, has a vert of 40.5 inches. Scott Fujita, Calv Johnson, and Vernon Davis are all over 230 pounds and have a 42-inch vertical.
Virg Green, Rocky McIntosh, and Dontay Moch stand 42 inches tall and weigh 240 pounds.
Then there’s Cameron Wake of the NFL. Cameron Wake has a vertical of 45.5 inches. Cameron Wake can get his head a whopping 10 feet and 0.5 inches off the ground in one jump, without the need for a running start, just by adding his height and standing vertical.
After examining the NBA combine standing reaches of players close to 6’3 (standing reach isn’t measured at the NFL combine), I think Wake’s standing reach is around 8’3
Cam Wake will touch the rim on a 12-foot rim without a running start if that is his standing reach. Seriously. He’s that incredible.
Mario Williams, who stands 6’6 inches taller than Wake, might be able to do the same thing if his standing reach is 8’8, which isn’t impossible. Again, I really wish I could see some of these guys compete in a dunk contest because it would be unforgettable.
A player in the NFL will sometimes dunk the ball over the 10-foot crossbar after scoring a touchdown. Not to mention the fact that they’re lugging around 30 pounds of gear. These guys are incredible.
Recommended Reading: Are NBA or NFL Players More Athletic?
What Do The Numbers Say? Explaining Further
Standing Vertical
The NBA and NFL use standing vert as the most important jump statistic.
Simply put, you stand in one place and reach as high as possible, then compare that figure to your standing reach.
At the 2015 NFL Combine, Bryon Jones flaunted his 44.5-inch standing vert. He’s the best jumper in NFL Combine history, not because of his vertical but his 147-inch broad jump.
NFL Combine Records
- Ever: 46.0″ – Gerald Sensabaugh (2005)
- Highest in 2022: 42.0″ – Tariq Woolen
NBA Draft Records
- Ever: 38.0″ – Dwayne Mitchell (2012), Justin Anderson (2015)
- Highest in 2022: 35.5″ – E.J. Liddell
Surprised? Isn’t it all about those crazy hops in basketball and dunking?
Why, then, do NFL combine participants jump 8 inches higher than NBA combine participants?
Running Vertical
A running jump is more important during a basketball or football game than a standing jump, which is a measure of pure explosiveness.
A running jump entails a run-up before the jump, which adds energy and allows for a larger leap. The more energy you can involve in your jump during the approach, the better your running jump technique is.
The running vertical is not measured at the NFL Combine. Their highest standing leap is higher than the NBA draft’s highest running leap, so the numbers would be even more amazing than the NBA draft!
NBA Draft Records
- Ever: 44.5″ – Kenny Gregory (2001)
- Most recent: 44.0″ – Pat Connaughton (2015)
Please note that the ‘run up’ is limited to a few steps. NBA players can jump even higher if they perform a half-court run-up like the crazy dunks you see on TV.
The run-up technique makes a big difference in how you gain from it.
What about NFL?
When we examine the NBA combine, we find a player’s running vert is normally between 4-9 inches higher than their standing vertical. Given the best NFL athletes have a standing vert of 46″, 50-54″ is within the realms of possibility.
The Top 3 NFL Jumpers of All Time
These guys are athletic monsters that are almost solely judged on their athletic ability i.e. their speed, agility and jumping ability.
#1 – Gerald Sensabaugh, UNC, Safety, 46 inches (NFL record-holder)
North Carolina safety Gerald Sensabaugh set the record for the highest vertical jump test in the history of the NFL Scouting Combine in 2005.
The 212-pound rookie broke the previous record by half an inch by leaping 46 inches.
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Sensabaugh 157th overall in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Before being employed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2009, he spent four seasons with the Jaguars.
Before retiring in 2013, the strong safety played four more seasons in the NFL for the Cowboys.
#2 – Cameron Wake, Penn State, Linebacker, 45.5 inches
Penn State linebacker Cameron Wake set the second-highest vertical jump in NFL history at the same 2005 NFL Scouting Combine as Gerald Sensabaugh.
Wake missed tying Sensabaugh’s record by half an inch by leaping 45.5 inches.
Wake went undrafted after a strong combine performance, but the New York Giants signed him anyway. He was cut before he could make a name for himself in the CFL.
The Miami Dolphins eventually signed the six-foot-three defensive end in 2009. He went on to have a successful career with the Dolphins, appearing in the Pro Bowl five times.
#3 – Chris Chambers, Wisconsin, Wide receiver, 45 inches
After his results at the 2001 NFL Scouting Combine, Wisconsin wide receiver Chris Chambers held the previous vertical jump record of 45 inches.
The Miami Dolphins selected the 5-foot-11, 211-pound receiver in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft.
Chambers was a ten-year NFL veteran who made the Pro Bowl in 2005. Before retiring in 2011, he played for the Dolphins, Chargers, and Chiefs.
In his NFL career, the receiver’s leaping ability helped him score 58 touchdowns.
