Get ready to feel the need for speed with these lightning-fast NFL players who blazed through the 40-yard dash at record-breaking times!
NFL draft fanatics can rejoice now that the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine officially kicked off. As you all know, this is where the top prospects in the country come together to showcase their skills in front of coaches, scouts, and GMs from all 32 NFL teams. There’s a lot to look forward to, but let’s be honest, one of the most anticipated events at the combine is the 40-yard dash. No, the 40 is not the only measure of success on the football field, it’s merely a check in a box on a long list of measurables. Still, a fast 40-yard dash time can definitely turn heads and get scouts and fans alike excited about a player’s potential.
Who has the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL Combine history?
When you think speed, one name that pops up is Miami Dolphins Tyreek Hill, who ran a 4.29-second 40-yard dash in 2016, but he didn’t make the list given he did not run it at the NFL Combine. Corners are usually the fastest guys at the combine. So don’t expect to see Randy Moss who ran a 4.25 or Bo Jackson who allegedly ran arguably the fastest 40 at 4.18. In fact, there are four guys that ran a sub 4.3 but couldn’t make the list, including the greatest corner of all time Deion Sanders. Prime Time who ran something between a 4.21 and 4.27 seconds. That was back in 89′ before laser. before the combine became the spectacle it is today.
Fast forward a few decades and you have guys blazing through the 40. Take New England Patriots wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, who joined this honorable mentions list at the 2022 NFL combine with a 4.28 40. Next up is Jalen Myrick, who ran 4.28 seconds in 2017, tying with him is Hall of Fame corner, Champ Bailey who clocked a 4.28 in1999. Another pair of corners are Stanford Routt and Fabian Washington, both clocked 4.29 seconds at the 2005 NFL Combine.
7. Marquise Goodwin, WiR, 4.27 seconds (2013)
Kicking off the list is Marquise Goodwin who ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at the 2013 NFL combine, which was the third-fastest time recorded at that event. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the draft that year and played for them for four seasons. Goodwin’s blazing speed made him a dangerous deep threat for the Bills, but injuries and inconsistent quarterback play limited his production. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 and had his best season that year, with 962 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He went on to pay for
6. Henry Ruggs III, WR, 4.27 seconds (2020)
Alabama wideout Henry Ruggs III tied Marquise Goodwin’s 4.27-second mark in the 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL combine, and he was selected 12th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in that year’s draft. Ruggs had an up-and-down rookie season, but he showed flashes of brilliance, finishing the year with 452 receiving yards and two touchdowns. His speed and athleticism made him a potentially lethal weapon for the Raiders in the years to come. Unfortunately off-field led to his NFL career being cut short.
5. Tariq Woolen, CB, 4.26 seconds (2022)
Tariq Woolen, nicknamed “Riq the Freak” in college and “Avatar” by his new teammates in Seattle, is a highly athletic cornerback with rare size and speed. His 4.26 second 40-yard dash time at the 2022 NFL Combine set a record for his position and size, 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, and his 42-inch vertical jump showcased his explosive athleticism. While he has only played cornerback for two years and is still raw, his elite traits and potential make him a highly intriguing prospect for teams to develop.
4. Chris Johnson, RB, 4.24 seconds (2008)
The lone running back on this list is Chris Johnson, who ran the second-fastest 40-yard dash time in combine history in 2008, recording an impressive 4.24 seconds. His lightning-fast speed translated well to the NFL, where he had a successful career as a running back. Johnson rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons in the league, earning three Pro Bowl selections and a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2009.
3. Rondel Menendez, WR 4.24 seconds (1999)
Before Chris Johnson’s 4.24-second mark, there was Rondel Menendez the 1999 NFL combine. Despite his impressive showing, Menendez went undrafted that year, but he did sign with the Atlanta Falcons and played in seven games for the team that season. However, his NFL career was short-lived, and he retired from professional football in 2000.
2. Kalon Barnes, CB, 4.23 seconds (2022)
A record was almost broken, but as we all know, almost doesn’t count. Kalon Barnes is a talented cornerback with incredible speed, as evidenced by his 4.23 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine. However, he has some weaknesses in his game, including poor eye discipline and a tendency to get beaten on inside routes. He was taken by the Carolina Panthers in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He also struggles with strength in the run game and can be an inconsistent tackler, which is probably why he ended up being cut and then signed by the Minnesota Vikings. Still, he’s the second-fastest man in NFL Combine history.
1. John Ross, WR, 4.22 seconds (2017)
And the reigning, defending, undisputed fastest man in NFL Combine history is John Ross, clocking in at an astonishing 4.22 seconds. He was selected ninth overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in that year’s draft. However, his professional career has been plagued by injuries, limiting his playing time and productivity. Despite his blazing speed, Ross has struggled to establish himself as a consistent threat on the field.