Who has the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL history? Top 10 fastest 40-yard dashes

Who has the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL history? One of the requirements for professional footballers is speed and acceleration. College and team recruiters assess these speeds before onboarding new members. The sprint record significantly impacts their college professional football prospects. Read on for a ranked list of the fastest sprints ever recorded.

The 40-yard dash is not an official athletics race recognized by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations). Several online reports show wide receivers and cornerbacks have the fastest average timings. Who has the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL history?

Top 10 fastest 40-yard dash

The 40-yard sprint record would initially impact specific positions like the running back, wide receiver, and defensive end. Today, the record affects all players regardless of the position they hold. Here is a ranked list of the top 10 fastest 40-yard dash speeds in NFL history as of 2023:

10. Stanford Routt - 4.27 seconds

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• Full name: Stanford Bermond Routt
• Date of birth: July 6, 1983
• Nationality: American
• Position: Cornerback

Who has the fastest 40-yard dash in the NFL? Stanford Routt is a retired American footballer born in July 1983. He started playing at the University of Houston and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2005. Routt was also a track and field athlete named the Indoor Track Athlete of the Year by Conference USA in 2004 after winning the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes. His 40-yard dash is 4.27 seconds.

9. Marquise Goodwin - 4.27 seconds

• Full name: Marquise Derell Goodwin
• Date of birth: November 19, 1990
• Nationality: American
• Position: Wide receiver

Who is the fastest NFL player in the 40-yard dash? 32-year-old Marquise Goodwin is a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns. The American athlete is also a long jump track and field athlete. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2013. Goodwin played for teams like the Philadelphia Eagles (2020) and the Seattle Seahawks (2022). His 40-yard record is 4.27 seconds in 2013, one of the best in the league.

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8. Jerome Mathis - 4.26 seconds

• Full name: Jerome Alvon Mathis
• Date of birth: July 26, 1983
• Nationality: American
• Position: Wide receiver

What was the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL history? Jerome Mathis was drafted in 2005 by the Houston Texans. He has one of the fastest dashes in the NFL, attaining 4.26 seconds during his debut year. The athlete, who doubles as a track and field champion, also played for the Toronto Argonauts (2009) and Pittsburgh Power (2011).

7. Tariq Woolen - 4.26 seconds

• Full name: Tariq Deion Woolen
• Date of birth: May 2, 1999
• Nationality: American
• Position: Cornerback

Who ran the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL history? At the 2022 NFL Combine, Tariq Woolen attained 4.26 seconds, placing him among the top 10 fastest athletes. He plays for the Seattle Seahawks, where he was drafted in 2022. The 24-year-old started playing in college.

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6. Dri Archer - 4.26 seconds

• Full name: Adrion Dante Archer
• Date of birth: August 9, 1991
• Nationality: American
• Position: Running back

Dri Archer is a retired running back and return specialist. He was drafted in 2014 by the Pittsburgh Steelers and hit 4.26 seconds the same year at the NFL Scouting Combine. Archer played football, basketball, and track and field in high school. Dri was the First player named to the Walter Camp All-America Team in 2012.

5. DJ Turner II - 4.26 seconds

• Full name: JuanDrago Turner II
• Date of birth: November 9, 2000
• Nationality: American
• Position: Cornerback

The fastest 40-yard dash in 2023 is held by JuanDrago, popularly known as DJ Turner. He hit a 4.26-second 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine. The University of Michigan alumnus was born in November 2000 in Suwanee, Georgia.

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Football

4. Rondel Menendez - 4.24 seconds

• Full name: Rondel Menendez
• Date of birth: May 18, 1975
• Nationality: American
• Position: Wide receiver

Retired footballer Rondel Menendez holds the record for one of the fastest 40-yard dashes in NFL history. He attained 4.24 seconds at the 1999 NFL Combine. one of the highest speeds in the NFL. Menendez was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons and also played for the Washington Redskins (1999) and the Frankfurt Galaxy (2001) and was once the fastest man in the NFL, per deadspin.com.

3. Chris Johnson - 4.24 seconds

• Full name: Christopher Duan Johnson
• Date of birth: September 23, 1985
• Nationality: American
• Position: Running back

Who has the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL history? Chris Johnson attained a record-breaking 4.24 seconds at the 2008 NFL Combine. The 38-year-old was selected for the Pro Boal during the first three years in the league. In 2009, Johnson won the NFL rushing title with 2006 yards, becoming the sixth out of eight players to rush for over 2,000 yards in one season.

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2. Kalon Barnes - 4.23 seconds

• Full name: Kalon Barnes
• Date of birth: December 16, 1998
• Nationality: American
• Position: Cornerback

New York Nets cornerback Kalon Barnes is among the athletes who holds the NFL 40-yard dash record at 4.23 seconds. He started his professional career as a wide receiver before converting in 2018. Kalon was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2022 and played for the Minnesota Vikings (2022) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2023).

1. John Ross - 4.22 seconds

• Full name: John Ellis Ross
• Date of birth: November 27, 1995
• Nationality: American
• Position: Wide receiver

What is the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL history? John Ross tops the list with a record of 4.22 seconds. The former player started playing in college and was in the NFL for five seasons before retiring in July 2023. He started playing in high school as a former track and field athlete.

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What is Tyreek Hill's 40-yard dash?

Tyreek Hill is a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins drafted in 2016. His speed on the pitch earned him the nickname 'Cheetah,' he has been selected to the Pro Bowl in his seven seasons in the league. Tyreek's 40-yard dash is 4.29 seconds, ranking him close to the top 10.

Who has the fastest 40-yard dash as a QB?

The quarterback position requires strength, accuracy, and speed to execute its function. The QB with the fastest 40-yard dash time in NFL history is Michael Vick, who attained 4.33 seconds in 2001.

As more upcoming athletes continue to join the NFL, these records will likely be broken soon. The 40-yard dash is the highlight of the NFL Combine, entertaining the audience and allowing the league stakeholders to assess potential athletes before recruiting them.

READ ALSO: Best NFL players who did not go to college

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Sports Brief published a list of NFL players who did not attend college. These athletes have been branded ''street smart,'' making it big in sports despite not being academic stars. Who are some of these athletes?

Brian Banks takes the first place. When he developed an interest in football, he was jailed for alleged assault, a case that was later dismissed. He joined the Atlanta Falcons later on and underwent training. Others include Michael Lewis and Eric Swann. Check out the above article for the top 10 NFL players who did not attend college.