Who’s the Fastest Runner in the NFL?
Contents
This article will take a look at the NFL’s fastest runners and see who’s the quickest of them all.
Introduction
You may be surprised to learn that the NFL’s fastest player isn’t a wide receiver or defensive back. In fact, it’s a player you might not have heard of at all. His name is Marquise Goodwin, and he’s a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers.
Goodwin is one of the most accomplished track and field athletes in the country, and his speed has translated to the football field. He’s been clocked at running a 4.27-second 40-yard dash, which is absolutely blazing speed. To put that into perspective, the average time for a wide receiver at the NFL Combine is 4.56 seconds. Goodwin’s speed makes him a dangerous deep threat for opposing defenses, and he’s also one of the best kick returners in the league.
If you’re curious about who else ranks among the NFL’s fastest players, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 quickest players in the league. You might be surprised by some of the names on this list
The Fastest Players by Position
Every year the NFL Scouting Combine measures the speed of each incoming class of rookies. This year’s class is no different, with a new crop of speedsters looking to make their mark in the league. Here’s a look at the fastest players by position.
Quarterbacks
In the NFL, there are quarterbacks who can run the 40-yard dash in under five seconds. In fact, the fastest quarterback in NFL history is Michael Vick, who ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the 2001 NFL Scouting Combine.
Other quarterbacks who have run sub-five-second 40s include Vince Young (4.58 seconds), Robert Griffin III (4.41 seconds), and Cam Newton (4.59 seconds). Of course, speed isn’t everything, and these quarterbacks have also been among the best in the league at their positions.
Running Backs
Running backs are some of the most versatile and important players in football. Not only do they need to be able to run fast, they also need to have the vision and agility to find holes in the defense and make plays happen.
In recent years, some of the fastest players in the NFL have been running backs. In 2017, John Ross set the NFL Combine record for the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.22 seconds. fellow running back wide receiver Tyreek Hill isn’t far behind, running a 4.29-second 40-yard dash.
Other fast running backs include Michael Vick, Chris Johnson, Jamaal Charles, and Adrian Peterson. These players have all shown that they have the speed to make big plays happen on the field.
Wide Receivers
The average NFL wide receiver runs the 40-yard dash in about 4.5 seconds. But some are much faster than that. Below are the top 10 speeds recorded at the NFL Scouting Combine since 2006, when electronic timing was introduced.
1. WR John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals: 4.22 seconds
2. WR Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs: 4.24 seconds
3. WR Jacoby Ford, Oakland Raiders: 4.28 seconds
4. WR Dri Archer, Pittsburgh Steelers: 4.29 seconds
5. WR Marquise Goodwin, Buffalo Bills: 4.27 seconds
6. WR Ted Ginn Jr., Carolina Panthers: 4.28 seconds
7. WR Will Fuller, Houston Texans: 4.32 seconds
8. WR Corey Coleman, Cleveland Browns: 4.37 seconds
9. WRJosh Doctson, Washington Redskins: 4
Tight Ends
In the NFL, tight ends (TEs) are often called the “big wide receivers.” They line up next to the offensive tackles and are usually 6’6″ or taller, and weigh between 260 and 290 pounds. Their size gives them an advantage in blocking, but their primary job is to catch passes.
There are a few TEs who are also excellent runners and can be used in the running game, but most are not known for their speed. The fastest TE in the NFL is probably Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints. He ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine.
Defensive Backs
In the NFL, the defensive backs are the players who line up behind the defensive linemen. They typically play close to the line of scrimmage, and their primary responsibilities are to defend against passes and stop the run.
There are two main types of defensive backs: corners and safeties. Corners are typically smaller and faster, and they line up on the outside of the formation. Safeties are typically larger and stronger, and they lined up in the middle of the formation.
The following is a list of the fastest defensive backs in the NFL, as of 2019:
-Cornerbacks:
-Byron Jones (Dallas Cowboys) – 4.36 seconds
-Tevin Mitchell (San Francisco 49ers) – 4.38 seconds
-Armani Watts (Kansas City Chiefs) – 4.39 seconds
-Safeties:
-Earl Thomas (Baltimore Ravens) – 4.51 seconds
-Justin Simmons (Denver Broncos) – 4.52 seconds
-Lamarcus Joyner (Oakland Raiders) – 4.55 seconds
The Fastest Players in the NFL
There are many fast players in the NFL, but there are a few who stand out above the rest. Players like Tyreek Hill and Marquise Goodwin are some of the fastest in the league. But who is the fastest player in the NFL?
John Ross
Ross ran the 40-yard dash in 4.22 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2017, setting a new record. Prior to Ross, the player with the fastest recorded time was wide receiver Chris Johnson, who ran a 4.24 in 2008.
Brandin Cooks
In May of 2017, Cooks was clocked running the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds, which would make him the fastest player in the NFL. He also recorded a vertical jump of 37 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 4 inches.
At the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine, Cooks ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds, recording the second-fastest time among wide receivers. His time would have placed him ahead of nine cornerbacks at that year’s combine.
Tyreek Hill
Tyreek Hill is a wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at West Alabama, where he was a two-time All-American return specialist. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.Hill has been selected for three Pro Bowls and have been named first-team All-Pro twice. In 2019, he became the first player in NFL history with a touchdown reception, rushing attempt, punt return, and kickoff return in the same game.
Standing at 5’10”, Hill has been recorded as running a 4.29-second forty-yard dash. He has been ranked as one of the fastest players in the NFL throughout his career.
Marquise Goodwin
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin is the fastest player in the NFL, according to a list compiled by Next Gen Stats.
The list, which was released Monday, ranks the top five fastest players in the NFL based on their average speed during games over the past two seasons.
Goodwin averaged 22.03 miles per hour during games in 2016 and 2017, making him the only player to average more than 22 miles per hour over that span.
The next-fastest player on the list is Buffalo Bills wide receiver Deonte Thompson, who averaged 21.64 miles per hour.
Rounding out the top five are Washington Redskins wide receiver Jamison Crowder (21.51), New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson (21.41) and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (21.24).
Trae Waynes
Few cornerbacks can keep up with Minnesota Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes. Waynes ran a 4.31-second 40-yard dash at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine, making him the second-fastest player in the event. The only player who was faster than Waynes was wide receiver J.J. Nelson, who ran a 4.29.
Waynes isn’t just fast in a straight line, either. He has the agility to change directions quickly and keep up with receivers down the field. That’s why he’s been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL since being drafted in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Conclusion
After analyzing the data, we can conclude that John Ross is the fastest player in the NFL. His top speed of 22.31 MPH is significantly faster than the second place finisher, Tyreek Hill, who ran at 21.91 MPH. This demonstrates that Ross is not only the fastest player in the NFL, but also significantly faster than any other player in the league.
