The Oklahoma Drill

Where Toughness Gets Tested

The Oklahoma Drill isn’t about game plans or schemes. It’s about what happens when the lane narrows and a collision is intended. It's designed to test players' technique, toughness, and ability to win individual battles. 

Two players head-to-head. One tries to advance. One tries to stop him. 

The drill was created in 1947 by Bud Wilkinson in Norman, Oklahoma. His players were older and many had already seen real combat.

They needed a direct challenge. The Oklahoma Drill gave it to them.

It was about revealing grit, determination, and character. Coaches used it to find out who could get it done when there was no one else to lean on.

The drill spread across the country. High schools. College programs. NFL camps. It became a rite of passage that was feared, respected, and unforgettable. The phrase became embedded in the lexicon of football coaches, players and fans. 

By 2019, the NFL banned the Oklahoma Drill. College and high schools had already begun to ban it. For many, it had become too much. Concerns over concussions and long-term injuries shifted the game.   .

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