Who Is The Fastest Player In The NFL Ever?
Contents
The answer to who is the fastest player in the NFL ever is not as simple as it may seem. Take a look at the top ten fastest players in the NFL and their speeds.
The Players
Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson is a former NFL running back who is best known for his time with the Tennessee Titans. He was drafted by the Titans in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. In 2009, he set a franchise record with 2,006 rushing yards, and he was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year. He also holds the NFL record for the longest run from scrimmage, with a 96-yard touchdown run against the Houston Texans in 2009.
Johnson’s gridiron career came to an end in 2017, when he was waived by the Arizona Cardinals. In total, he played 10 NFL seasons and rushed for 11,195 yards and 64 touchdowns. He also had 1,094 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.
Deion Sanders
At his peak, there was perhaps no one more feared with the football in his hands than Deion Sanders. The versatile defensive back played 14 seasons in the NFL and is widely considered one of the greatest athletes to ever live. He also dabbled as a wide receiver and punt returner early in his career, and remains the only player in NFL history to score a touchdown and an interception in the same game.
But what made Sanders truly special was his speed. He was clocked at 4.27 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the 1989 Scouting Combine, which is still the fastest time ever recorded at the event. In fact, it’s believed that Sanders may have run even faster than that, as some have speculated that his hand-timed 4.2 second run may have been even more accurate.
In any case, there’s no doubting that Sanders was an incredible athlete with rare speed and agility. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and will surely go down as one of the greatest players in NFL history.
Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson is widely considered to be the fastest player in NFL history. He was clocked at 4.12 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the 1986 NFL Scouting Combine, and he reportedly ran a 4.13 at Auburn’s Pro Day later that year.
Jackson’s speed was so legendary that it transcended football. He was also a professional baseball player, and is one of only a handful of athletes to be named an All-Star in two different major sports.
The Times
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league. The NFL is the highest level of professional football in the United States, and the fastest player in the NFL is wide receiver John Ross. Ross was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Chris Johnson’s 4.24
In the 40-yard dash, Chris Johnson’s 4.24 time is the fastest in NFL history. He ran the dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2008 and his time has never been beaten. Not only is his time the fastest in NFL history, but it’s also the fastest time ever recorded for any sporting event.
Deion Sanders’ 4.27
In the 40-yard dash, speed is everything. A split-second can mean the difference between a touchdown and a tackle. The NFL Scouting Combine is where prospective players show off their abilities in front of coaches, scouts and executives from all 32 teams. It’s a pressure-packed weekend, and the 40-yard dash is arguably the most important event.
Deion Sanders holds the NFL record for the fastest 40-yard dash time at 4.27 seconds. He set the record at the 1989 NFL Scouting Combine. Sanders was a college star at Florida State and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the fifth overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft. He went on to have a Hall of Fame career, playing for the Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens.
Bo Jackson’s 4.12
In 1989, Bo Jackson ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in an astonishing 4.12 seconds. To this day, it is still the fastest time ever recorded at the combine.
Jackson was a two-sport athlete who was drafted by both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL and by the Kansas City Royals in Major League Baseball. He ultimately chose to play baseball, but not before he wowed scouts with his speed.
Although his football career was cut short due to injury, Jackson is still considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. His 4.12 time in the 40-yard dash is a record that may never be broken.
The Record
In 2019, there were some very fast players in the NFL. But who is the fastest player of all time? That would be wide receiver DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles. Jackson ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine.
Chris Johnson’s 4.24
In 2009, Chris Johnson ran a 4.24 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. This time still stands as the record for the fastest time ever run at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Johnson’s time was an incredible accomplishment, as it showed not only his straight-line speed, but also his explosiveness and ability to change directions quickly. This helped him become one of the most dangerous running backs in the NFL, as he was able to take any play to the house whenever he got his hands on the ball.
Although Johnson’s 4.24 time is still the record, there have been a few other players who have come close to breaking it. In 2008, Darrius Heyward-Bey ran a 4.30 40-yard dash, and in 2017, both John Ross and Corey Davis ran 4.22 40-yard dashes.
Deion Sanders’ 4.27
The fastest player in NFL history is Deion Sanders. In the long jump, he wassummer Olympics in Barcelona.
In his 40-yard dash at the 1989 NFL Scouting Combine, Sanders ran a 4.27, which is still the NFL Scouting Combine record.
Bo Jackson’s 4.12
In 1989, Bo Jackson ran the 40-yard dash in 4.12 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine. Jackson’s time is the fastest recorded at the Combine since electronic timing was introduced in 1977. It’s also believed to be the fastest time ever recorded for the 40-yard dash by an NFL player, though Jackie Robinson once reportedly ran it in 4.4 seconds.