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.
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.
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. Marquise Goodwin
Marquise Goodwin is an American football wide receiver who has played for several teams in the National Football League (NFL), including the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Philadelphia Eagles.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Goodwin’s top running speed in the NFL was 21.68 mph, which he achieved in Week 5 of the 2017 season against the Indianapolis Colts.
He ran for an 83-yard touchdown on that play, which was the longest reception of his career, and is known for his incredible speed, having recorded a 40-yard dash time of 4.27 seconds, which is the fifth-fastest time ever recorded at the NFL Combine.
Goodwin is also known for his track and field career, having competed in the long jump at the 2012 London Olympics. He holds a personal best of 10.24 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
9. Randy Moss
Moss is a former professional American football player who often played as a wide receiver for 14 seasons of the NFL.
Moss was famous for his ability to secure contested catches and the word mossed came into vernacular football. During his first year with the Vikings, he was able to haul 17 touchdown passes which are still an all-time record.
8. Dri Archer
Dri Archer is a former American football player who played as a running back and return specialist.
He is known for his exceptional speed and agility. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Archer ran the 40-yard dash in 4.26 seconds, which is the fourth-fastest time ever recorded since the NFL began electronic timing.
Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in the third round with the 97th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He also played briefly for the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills.
7. Robert Hayes
The Olympic sprinter turned American football wide receiver, Bob Hayes is considered the fastest NFL player ever.
In Olympics, Hayes won a 100-meter event and broke the World Record with 10.06 seconds (Current record: 9.58 seconds by Usain Bolt).
He was an American field athlete in both track and football at Florida A&M University and was also a two-sport college standout.
Hayes once held the title for the fastest 70-yard dash (6.9 seconds) and still ties for the second-fastest 60-yard dash (5.9 seconds) with Charlie Greene.
Bob held multiple world records in the 60-yard, 100-yard, 220-yard, and Olympic 100-meter dash, earning him the title “world’s fastest human,” held for many years.
He is the only athlete ever who won both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.
6. 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.’
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.
5. Darrell Green
Darrell Ray Green is an American former football professional who from 1983 to 2002, was a cornerback to the Washington Redskins in the National Football League. He’s widely regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL ever.
4. Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson is the fastest running back of all time, running the 40-yard dash in 4.12 seconds. In the history of baseball and football, he is the only professional athlete to be named an All-star.
The elite standard of Jackson in several sports gave him a reputation for being one of the best athletes ever.
3. 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 drawn up by the Tennessee Titan 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.
2. John Ross
John Ross is an American football wide receiver who was selected ninth overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2017 NFL Draft.
He holds the record for the fastest-recorded 40-yard dash in NFL Combine history, with a time of 4.22 seconds.
Ross played five seasons in the NFL, primarily for the Cincinnati Bengals. He also had brief stints with the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers. Throughout his career, Ross accumulated 62 receptions for 951 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He faced challenges with injuries, including calf and shoulder injuries, which affected his performance in the league.
Despite the obstacles, Ross made significant contributions during his time in the NFL, showcasing his speed and skills as a wide receiver.
1. 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.
As of the 2023 season, he has accumulated 9,821 receiving yards and 75 receiving touchdowns.
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 speed and athleticism have made them legends in the sport, and their impact will be felt for generations to come.