Craziest NFL Combine prize ever? When Adidas offered $1M island for breaking 40-yard dash record

Was Adidas' prize of an island for breaking the 2017 40-yard dash record the craziest NFL combine prize ever? Probably.

The popular sportswear company offered a private island to anyone who broke the record in 2017. The runner would have had to break the record while wearing a pair of Adidas shoes. The athlete would have had to enter an endorsement agreement with the company and wear its products throughout the 2017 season.

adidas Football US

@adidasFballUS

Paradise awaits.

Break the 40-yard dash record, win your own island.

#teamadidas a.did.as/60028nTCA

8576

3250

Paradise awaits.

Break the 40-yard dash record, win your own island.

#teamadidas a.did.as/60028nTCA https://t.co/jEETRVA2bN

Eric Dickerson

@EricDickerson

That beats the carrot cake @adidasFballUS gave me for breaking the @NFL single season rushing yards record lol
#NFLCombine #ED2105 twitter.com/darrenrovell/s…

Darren Rovell

@darrenrovell

adidas offering an island (up to $1M cost) for player at combine who beats Chris Johnson's 4.24 40 in its shoes. Possible islands to win

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adidas offering an island (up to $1M cost) for player at combine who beats Chris Johnson's 4.24 40 in its shoes. Possible islands to win https://t.co/01c1EbyNAG

That beats the carrot cake @adidasFballUS gave me for breaking the @NFL single season rushing yards record lol
#NFLCombine #ED2105 twitter.com/darrenrovell/s…

Before 2017, the fastest official 40-yard dash time was held by former Tennessee Titans and New York Jets running back Chris Johnson, who ran a 4.24 at the 2008 NFL draft.

Someone did break his record the same year the company announced its luxury island prize.

John Ross broke the 40-yard dash record in 2017 but didn't win the private island that Adidas put up as a prize

john Ross NFL Combine - Day 4

The same year that Adidas put up an island as a prize for breaking the 40-yard dash record, wide receiver John Ross broke the record.

The Washington wide receiver ran a 40-yard dash in a record 4.22 seconds and beat Johnson's previous 4.24 record.

However, Ross was sporting a pair of Nike shoes, not Adidas. Therefore, due to the company's requirements, he was ineligible to win the prize.

Nevertheless, Ross still wound up being a top-10 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the third wide receiver selected as the Cincinnati Bengals took him with the ninth overall pick.

Despite his very high selection, Ross has had a disappointing NFL career. In five seasons, he's recorded 62 receptions for 957 yards and 11 touchdowns. He missed all of last season but was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs this past January on a future contract.

Ross' record has stood since 2017, and it will be interesting to see how long it will stand.

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