Noah Lyles vs. Tyreek Hill: The Race That Almost Happened
Noah Lyles solidified his status as the world’s fastest man last summer by winning Olympic gold in the 100 meters. The American sprinter nearly achieved the rare 100m-200m double but was hampered by COVID symptoms during the longer race. After his Olympic triumph, Lyles found himself challenged to a high-profile race by one of the NFL’s speediest players.
The Planned Showdown That Fell Through
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, known as “Cheetah” for his blazing speed on the football field, challenged Lyles to a race that was initially scheduled for this weekend in New York City. However, the much-anticipated event appears to have been canceled.
“We were very deep into creating the event. In fact, it was supposed to happen this weekend,” Lyles revealed at the Sport Beach event in Cannes, France. “Unfortunately there were some things, complications, personal reasons that it just didn’t come to pass.”
The race was planned to be a major spectacle, with Lyles explaining: “We were gonna have a big event, we were going to shut down New York – Times Square and everything, we were gonna have all the billboards for the event, it was going to be a lot of fun.”
Hill’s Impressive Track Performance
While the race against Lyles didn’t materialize, Hill recently demonstrated his world-class speed at a track event. The 31-year-old NFL star won the 100m dash with a time of 10.15 seconds at the Last Chance Sprint Series, defeating reigning NCAA Division II champion Isaac Bostio and former Michigan sprinter Asani Hampton.
What makes Hill’s performance remarkable:
- He hasn’t run track competitively since high school
- He’s four years older than Lyles
- He’s played nine physically demanding NFL seasons
After his victory, Hill held up a sign saying “Noah could never,” showing he’s still eager for the matchup. For comparison, Lyles won Olympic gold with a time of 9.79 seconds in the 100m.
How Hill Stacks Up Against Other NFL Speedsters
Hill’s 10.15-second time is faster than some of his NFL peers who have attempted track events. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 229 pounds, ran the 100m in 10.37 seconds in 2021. This demonstrates that Hill’s speed is exceptional even among professional athletes.
Will the Race Ever Happen?
While the planned event in New York fell through, the possibility remains for a future showdown between these two speed demons. The matchup would be a fascinating cross-sport spectacle, pitting Olympic gold medalist speed against NFL-elite quickness.
Key factors that could make this race happen:
- Both athletes appear interested in the challenge
- There’s clear fan interest in seeing the matchup
- Sponsors would likely support such an event
Only time will tell if we’ll get to see these two world-class athletes go head-to-head on the track.
Opinion: Why This Race Needs to Happen
The potential matchup between Noah Lyles and Tyreek Hill represents more than just a fun exhibition – it’s a rare opportunity to compare elite speed across different sports. While Lyles is undoubtedly the faster pure sprinter, Hill’s ability to maintain world-class speed despite the physical demands of NFL play is remarkable. This race would generate tremendous interest from both track and football fans, potentially introducing new audiences to both sports. The organizers should work through whatever complications arose and make this happen – it’s the kind of crossover event that could become an annual tradition, perhaps even expanding to include other fast NFL players challenging top sprinters.
