Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf tried to earn a spot at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100m but, though he came up short, he was far from completely out of his league.
No one in the NFL would argue with the fact that DK Metcalf is one of the athletic freaks in the league. At 6-4, 229 pounds, the now-Seattle Seahawks wide receiver ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in 2019. And we’ve all seen the play in which he ran down safety Budda Baker to prevent a score on an interception return.
On Sunday, however, he put his speed to the real test, putting himself up against some of the best track and field athletes in the United States. In a bid to qualify for the Olympic Trials, Metcalf competed in the USATF Golden Games in the 100-meter dash.
Though it was an outside shot for the Ole Miss product to end up running a good enough time to make it to the Olympics in Tokyo, he was able to impress as he posted a time of 10.36 seconds:
10.36 for DK Metcalf 👀 pic.twitter.com/M5GthtOmUu
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) May 9, 2021
DK Metcalf is clearly built different as an NFL athlete
One thing that stood out with the race was just how much bigger DK Metcalf was than the rest of his heat. That clearly played a factor as he faded back from the lead pack as the race went on, ending with him finishing ninth in his heat.
That being said, his start was right with everyone and he clearly has the athletic traits to compete with some of the best sprinters in the United States. With long-term training — an unlikely venture given his day job with the Seahawks — it’s not hard to imagine Metcalf having a legitimate shot at qualifying for the Olympic Trials at some point.
Alas, that seems unlikely as he’ll suit up on Sundays and his size is another X-factor for his success. However, as his participation in the 100m event was questioned by some, Metcalf clearly didn’t look out of place or completely overwhelmed. He’s not just an elite athlete in the NFL but, simply, a top-tier athlete as a whole.