Speed kills.
If there's any one thing we'll see a lot of on Super Bowl Sunday, aside from bad commercials and points, it's speed. Both the Chiefs and 49ers have a lot of it, and it comes in all different forms.
All blurred eyes will be set on the explosiveness of a few fast, fast dudes, led primarily by incendiary Kansas City wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Hill is known for his ridiculous speed, but he'll have some competition on the sidelines in Super Bowl 54 — both on his own, and the opposition.
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Who is the fastest player in the NFL?
Who's the real "Cheetah?" There's some debate at the top.
Hill, heralded as one of the NFL's fastest, tried to secure the nickname some years ago. He was met with resistance from 49ers running back Matt "The Cheetah" Breida.
This year, Breida took home the cheetah honors, notching the fastest play in the 2019 season with his 83-yard rushing touchdown vs. the Browns in Week 5. Breida reached a top speed of 22.30 mph per NFL's Next Gen Stats.
But if the 40-yard dash is a more pure indicator of speed for you, that number is up for debate. The NFL moved to electronic timing of the 40-yard dash in 1999, meaning hand times of the years prior were debatable. Since 1999, Bengals receiver John Ross set the fastest mark in the 40, posting a 4.22 second 40-yard dash at the 2017 NFL Combine. That number just barely beat out former running back Chris Johnson, who set the mark at 4.24 in 2008.
49ers receiver Marquise Goodwin's 4.27 40-yard dash at the 2017 NFL Combine is also among the fastest marks for active players.
There's still some gray area there, as well, considering Baltimore's speedy deep threat Marquise "Hollywood" Brown didn't run at either the 2019 NFL Combine or Oklahoma's Pro Day, as he was rehabbing from foot surgery, and some believe that Brown would be the fastest player in the NFL today, by both gameday speed and 40-yard dash time.
Top 10 fastest NFL players in 2019 (mph)
Here are the 10 fastest runs from the 2019 NFL season (via NFL's Next Gen Stats):
| Player | Team | Top speed (mph) | Play event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Breida | 49ers | 22.3 | 83-yard rushing TD |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | Bears | 22.23 | 46-yard rush |
| Brandon Wilson | Bengals | 22.03 | 92-yard kickoff return TD |
| Nick Chubb | Browns | 21.95 | 88-yard rushing TD |
| Christian McCaffrey | Panthers | 21.95 | 84-yard rushing TD |
| Saquon Barkley | Giants | 21.89 | 68-yard rushing TD |
| Mecole Hardman | Chiefs | 21.87 | 63-yard reception TD |
| Darren Waller | Raiders | 21.76 | 75-yard reception TD |
| Saquon Barkley | Giants | 21.76 | 59-yard rush |
| Mecole Hardman | Chiefs | 21.74 | 83-yard reception TD |
Interestingly enough, the only Chiefs player in the top 10 among fastest speed on a play this season is Mecole Hardman. Sammy Watkins also appears on the list, inside the top 20.
Hill doesn't make the official list, but makes an appearance in another fashion.
In a Week 9 win over the Vikings, KC running back Damien Williams scored on a 91-yard touchdown run. Seldom is it ever someone other than the scorer who gets the headlines on a touchdown, but even with Williams' five-yard head start, Hill caught up to — and passed — him on the play, showcasing his signature blazing speed.
Hill reached a top speed of 22.64 mph on the play, which would be second-highest on the list behind Breida's TD run.
Top 10 fastest 40 times (active NFL players)
And here are the 10 fastest 40 times by active NFL players, recorded during either the NFL Combine or at a Pro Day:
| Player | Team | 40-yard dash time | Year | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Ross | Bengals | 4.22 | 2017 | WR |
| Marquise Goodwin | 49ers | 4.27 | 2019 | WR |
| Curtis Samuel | Panthers | 4.31 | 2017 | WR |
| Andy Isabella | Cardinals | 4.31 | 2019 | WR |
| Parris Campbell | Colts | 4.31 | 2019 | WR |
| Trae Waynes | Vikings | 4.31 | 2015 | CB |
| Will Fuller | Texans | 4.32 | 2018 | WR |
| Donte Jackson | Panthers | 4.32 | 2018 | CB |
| Parry Nickerson | Jaguars | 4.32 | 2018 | CB |
| Denzel Ward | Browns | 4.32 | 2018 | CB |
Some players, such as Hill and Mostert, ran at their respective college Pro Days and not the NFL Combine. Hill ran a reported 4.29 at his Pro Day, while Mostert notched a 4.32.
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What is Tyreek Hill's 40 time?
Tyreek Hill didn't participate in the 2016 NFL combine because of his domestic abuse arrest. At West Alabama's Pro Day, Hill was clocked at a 4.29 40-yard dash with a 2.51 20-yard split.
What is Mecole Hardman's 40 time?
Mecole Hardman isn't too far behind Hill: At the 2019 NFL Combine, Hardman ran a 4.33 40-yard dash, 0.4 seconds behind Hill's Pro Day time.
What is Raheem Mostert's 40 time?
Similar to Hill, Mostert was a high school track star; but if you're judging by the 40-yard dash, he's still not as fast as Hill. At Purdue's Pro Day, Mostert ran a 4.32 40.
Who is the fastest NFL player ever?
There's a bit of debate surrounding this. The NFL switched to electronic tracking of times in 1999, so anything before is murky.
"Bullet" Bob Hayes is the only NFL player in history to have both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring. As a member of the Cowboys, Hayes won Super Bowl 6.
At the 1964 Olympics, Hayes tied the world record in the 100 meter dash at 10.06 seconds, and he currently holds the world record for the 70 meter dash. He's considered one of the fastest athletes ever, let alone in the world of the NFL.
Of course, there's also the legend of Bo Jackson, who supposedly ran a 4.13 40-yard dash in the 1986 NFL Combine. But, as it took place before 1999, the tracking time could be a bit murky. But who are we to doubt Bo?
Wide receiver John Ross, drafted by the Bengals in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, was clocked at a 4.22 40-yard dash at the Combine, the fastest sprint since 1999. He broke Chris Johnson's 40-yard dash record in that span, which was set at 4.24.
Well, they're definitely faster than this guy.
