The NFL Combine is synonymous with the city of Indianapolis, but that could be changing soon, and the Minnesota Vikings would like to have a hand in changing the tradition. The organization is making a play to host the annual pre-draft event as early as 2023, per team exec Lester Bagley -- via Pro Football Talk -- becoming the second known club to seek the event. The Dallas Cowboys are the other, with owner Jerry Jones bidding for the combine to be held at his team's multibillion dollar headquarters in Frisco, TX, with the added option of also utilizing AT&T Stadium in a proposal that is quite the one-two punch.
The deadline for teams around the league to express interest in hosting the combine was July 23, with the window having opened in June, and currently it's unknown what other organizations outside of the incumbent Colts and two aforementioned challengers threw their hat into the ring. The combine is an offseason staple for the league -- easily the biggest event between the Super Bowl and NFL Draft. And Indianapolis has become a staple for the event, the two having been effectively married to each other since 1987.
The five-day event has grown from a few attendees to a massive showing with global popularity and media attention, but the NFL is now considering putting the show on the road, with the Indy contract set to expire in 2022.
The Vikings aren't stopping there either, also reportedly interested in hosting the aforementioned NFL Draft in the not-so-distant future. That event is already secured through 2023, however, and they're also up against worthy opponents like Jones and the Cowboys for a shot at it.
