Top 10 Fastest NFL Players Ever

Historically, some of the fastest athletes have played in the NFL. Their athleticism and running speed propelled their career to legendary positions.
But why is speed so important in American football?
Speed is not just about running fast. It is also about reacting quickly to different situations on the field.
For example, a wide receiver needs to outrun the defenders to score a touchdown.
The NFL is one of the most popular sports in America, and its fastest players are among the biggest stars.
This leads us to wonder: who is the fastest person in the NFL?
It is hard to answer this question with exact numbers. Before 1999, there were no reliable electronic tools to measure the top speed of a player in miles per hour.
During that time, electronic tools were not yet widely used for measuring top speeds in sprint races, and the focus was more on start-to-finish times and biomechanical analysis.
Defining the fastest NFL player ever is complex due to different measuring methods and the evolution of the game. The conversation often includes Olympic-level sprinters who also played in the NFL, players with the fastest recorded in-game speed, and those who ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. 

Fastest players based on specific metrics

The Olympic sprinter: “Bullet” Bob Hayes 

• A gold medal winner in the 100-meter dash at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Hayes was regarded as the world’s fastest man and the fastest to ever play in the NFL.
• His speed as a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys was so revolutionary that defenses were forced to develop zone coverage schemes to defend against him. 

The fastest recorded in-game speed: Raheem Mostert 

• Based on NFL Next Gen Stats, running back Raheem Mostert recorded the fastest-ever in-game speed in 2020, reaching 23.09 mph on an 80-yard touchdown run for the 49ers.
• Other recent players who have recorded very high in-game speeds include Tyreek Hill, DK Metcalf, and Jahmyr Gibbs. 

The fastest 40-yard dash: Xavier Worthy 

• At the 2024 NFL Combine, wide receiver Xavier Worthy ran the fastest official 40-yard dash time ever, clocking in at 4.21 seconds.
• This broke the previous record of 4.22 seconds, set by John Ross in 2017. 

Comparison of fastest players by metric

Statistic	Player	Measurement	Notes
Olympic Track Speed	Bob Hayes	10.06 seconds in 100m	Gold medal winner in the 1964 Olympics.
In-Game Speed (MPH)	Raheem Mostert	23.09 mph	Recorded in a 2020 game by NFL Next Gen Stats.
NFL Combine 40-Yard Dash	Xavier Worthy	4.21 seconds	Set the combine record in 2024.

However, we can still rank the top 10 fastest players in the NFL ever, based on some factors, such as statistics, records, and memorable plays:

10. DK Metcalf

DK Metcalf competed in his professional track debut at the USATF Golden Games in May 2021, running the 100 meters in 10.36 to 10.37 seconds.
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 235 pounds, he finished ninth in his heat and 15th overall among 17 competitors.
While the time did not qualify him for the Olympic Trials (which required 10.05 seconds), it drew widespread praise for its exceptional nature, given his size and limited track training.
Metcalf acknowledged that elite football speed differs significantly from professional sprinting, noting that world-class athletes “do this for a living.”
In the NFL, Metcalf’s top recorded speed reached 22.64 mph during a viral chase-down tackle of Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker.
He also ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the 2019 NFL Combine, highlighting his unique combination of massive size and elite athleticism.

9. Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor is one of the fastest players in the NFL, combining power with elite speed.
During his high school career, he was a two-time state champion in the 100-meter dash, posting a personal best of 10.49 seconds.
At the NFL Combine, the 226-pound running back recorded a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, the fastest time for any running back that year.
In the NFL, Taylor’s top speed has been recorded at 22.13 mph, the fastest by any ball carrier in the 2021 season.
He also reached 22.05 mph on a 78-yard touchdown run, marking the fastest speed for a ball carrier that season.
His velocity is comparable to that of elite wide receivers like Tyreek Hill, making him a unique “deep threat” at the running back position.

8. Raheem Mostert

Raheem Mostert is widely recognized as one of the fastest players in NFL history, based on Next Gen Stats in-game measurements.
During the 2020 season with the San Francisco 49ers, he recorded the fastest speed by a ball carrier in five years.
23.09 MPH: Achieved during an 80-yard touchdown run against the New York Jets in Week 2 of 2020.
22.73 MPH: Recorded during a 76-yard touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 of 2020.
These speeds surpassed the fastest recorded in the previous three seasons. Mostert’s collegiate track background at Purdue, where he won Big Ten titles in the 60m, 100m, and 200m, contributed to his elite on-field velocity.
He even requested a maximum speed rating in Madden NFL 21, though he was capped at 97, behind Tyreek Hill.
His combination of raw burst and sustained top-end speed makes him a unique speed threat in the NFL.

7. Randy Moss

Randy Moss was renowned for his extraordinary speed, estimated to have run the 40-yard dash in 4.25 seconds or faster during his prime.
Although he did not participate in the NFL Combine, his Pro Day performance and on-field dominance confirmed his elite athleticism.
At 6’4” and 210 pounds, Moss possessed rare acceleration and top-end speed, allowing him to easily outrun defensive backs and stretch the field vertically.
His speed was not just raw velocity but combined with explosive power and superior leaping ability, making him a nightmare to cover.
Moss famously claimed he was faster than modern speedsters like Tyreek Hill in his prime.
His ability to accelerate quickly and maintain speed over distance revolutionized the wide receiver position, cementing his legacy as one of the most explosive and feared players in NFL history.

6. Chris Johnson

Christopher Duan Johnson is a former American football running back.
After a record-breaking 4.24 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, he was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
In 2009, he won the NFL title with 2,006 yards, breaking Marshall Faulk’s total scrimmage record of 2,509 yards. He got the nickname CJ2K.
In 2009, he was the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year. Johnson played for the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Jets as well.

5. Tyreek Hill

Tyreek Hill is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the Miami Dolphins.
Known for his speed and explosiveness, Hill is often referred to as the “Cheetah,” and he recorded some of the fastest speeds in NFL history.
His top running speed was 23.24 miles per hour on a Week Two kickoff return that he ran back 105 yards, only to have it called back by a holding penalty; He also reached 22.01 mph on a 68-yard catch on the following drive, setting a new top speed record.
Throughout his NFL career, Tyreek Hill has achieved significant milestones, including being selected to the Pro Bowl 7 times and earning 4 All-Pro honors.
He has been a key player for the Kansas City Chiefs before being traded to the Miami Dolphins.
Hill has consistently demonstrated his exceptional skills as a wide receiver, amassing impressive receiving yards and touchdowns.

4. Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders is an American athlete, sports analyst, and coach who has been in the NFL for 14 seasons and is nicknamed ‘Prime Time’, the only athlete to play both in a Super Bowl and in a World Series.
He is the Trinity Christian School’s offensive coordinator in Cedar Hill, Texas, and before their Spring 2021 season, he will be assuming duties as head coach at Jackson State University.
He was also a member of the Atlanta Falcons, the 49 San Francisco, the Dallas Cowboys, the Redskins, and the Baltimore Ravens during his American football career.
For nine seasons he was a part-time baseball outfielder at MLB where he was involved for the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, the Cincinnati Reds, and the San Francisco Giants. In the 1992 World Series, he won two Super Bowl titles and was the only athlete to play both in a Super Bowl and in a World Series.

3. Bo Jackson

Bo Jackson possessed elite speed, most notably running a 10.39-second 100-meter dash at 227 lbs during his college career at Auburn.
This time remains one of the fastest ever recorded by an athlete of his size. In football, his 40-yard dash time is legendary, with reports citing 4.12 seconds, though this is widely considered a hand-timed estimate rather than an official electronic record.
His explosive acceleration and top-end velocity allowed him to dominate in both the NFL and MLB.
While some skeptics argue the 4.12 time is exaggerated, his 10.39 track performance provides concrete evidence of his extraordinary athletic capability.
Jackson’s speed was a key factor in his Heisman Trophy win and his status as a rare dual-sport superstar, making him one of the fastest athletes in professional sports history.

2. Darrell Green

Darrell Green was widely considered the fastest player in NFL history, possessing world-class sprinting ability.
During his college career at Texas A&I, he recorded an official 10.08-second time in the 100-meter dash, a mark that would have earned him a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics.
In the NFL, he won the Fastest Man competition four times without ever losing a race.
Green’s speed was legendary throughout his career. He was rumored to have run a 4.09-second 40-yard dash in 1986, though he cited 4.15 as his fastest conscious effort.
Remarkably, he maintained this elite athleticism well into his later years, clocking a 4.24-second 40-yard dash at age 40 and a 4.43-second time at age 50.
This longevity allowed him to chase down elite backs like Tony Dorsett and Eric Dickerson late in his 20-season career with Washington.

1. Bob Hayes

Bob Hayes, an Olympic sprinter who later became an American football wide receiver, is widely regarded as one of the fastest NFL players of all time.
At the Olympic Games, Hayes won the 100-meter sprint and set a world record with a time of 10.06 seconds.
The current world record of 9.58 seconds is held by Usain Bolt.
Before his professional football career, he was a standout track and field athlete as well as a football player at Florida A&M University, excelling as a two-sport collegiate athlete.
Hayes once held the world record for the 70-yard dash with a time of 6.9 seconds and still shares the second-fastest recorded 60-yard dash at 5.9 seconds with Charlie Greene.
During his career, Bob Hayes set multiple world records in the 60-yard dash, 100-yard dash, 220-yard dash, and the Olympic 100-meter sprint, earning him the title of the “world’s fastest human” for many years.
He remains the only athlete in history to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl championship ring.

The NFL is a league of speed and athleticism, where the fastest players can make a huge difference on the field.
These players possess a rare combination of speed, agility, and strength that sets them apart from their peers.
From Bo Jackson to Deion Sanders, these players have left an indelible mark on the game of football. Their unique combination of size and speed also cements their status among the greatest athletes of all time.
Their speed and athleticism have made them legends in the sport, and their impact will be felt for generations to come.