Who are the fastest NFL players of all time? The NFL Scouting Combine in its current format began back in 1985 after the merging of three separate player camps. The 40-yard dash has been used to set the benchmark for a player’s pace ever since.
At the NFL Scouting Combine the start of the 40-yard dash has always been done by handheld method but the finish has been electronically recorded since 1999. Video coverage of parts of the combine began in 2004 and has been increasing ever since.
Handheld times of the 40-yard dash typically have a variance of 0.10 seconds to 0.26 seconds faster than electronic times so historical comparisons are always going to be controversial. We took that into account along with other facts to determine who the fastest NFL players ever, and what their best 40-yard dash time is.
11. Tarik Woolen (4.26 seconds)
At the 2022 NFL Combine Tarik Woolen became the fourth player to break the 4.26-second mark in the 40-yard dash. The former UTSA cornerback was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the 153th pick of the 2022 draft.
One of the fastest NFL players ever, the fifth-round pick had an unprecedented rookie season with an equal league-high six interceptions. He also earned Pro Bowl selection in his first year in the NFL.
Tariq Woolen snags his SIXTH interception 😳🔥 (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/2KX4s0ZEFw
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) December 4, 2022
10. Henry Ruggs (4.26 seconds)
Wide receiver Henry Ruggs recorded a 40-yard dash time of 4.26 seconds at the NFL Combine in 2020. He enjoyed success while at Alabama and was drafted with the 12th pick of the 2020 draft by the Raiders. In two seasons he scored four touchdowns from 50 receptions and totalling 921 receiving yards.
Ruggs was sentenced to between three and ten years prison in August 2023 for a felony count of driving under the influence (DUI) resulting in death following a crash involving his Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
9. Dri Archer (4.26 seconds)
Dri Archer was a largely bit part player but he’s one of the fastest NFL players ever with a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the 2014 NFL Combine. Drafted in the third round of the subsequent draft by the Steelers, the running back and return specialist made only 10 rushing attempts and 7 receptions in his rookie season and never appeared on offense in the NFL again.
8. Jerome Mathis (4.26 seconds)
Former wide receiver and kick return specialist Jerome Matis clocked a time of 4.26 seconds at the 2005 NFL Combine and was drafted in the fourth round of the 2005 draft by the Houston Texans. He earned a Pro Bowl appearance as the AFC’s kick returner in his rookie season and made his last appearance in the NFL in 2007.
7. Chris Johnson (4.24 seconds)
Chris Johnson ran the 40-yard dash in 4.24 seconds at the 2008 NFL combine, a record that stood for nine years until John Ross broke it in 2017. The dash helped rocket Johnson’s draft stocks and the Titans selected him at 24th overall in the draft.
Johnson had a lightning start to his career earning three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances. In 2009 he had a career year, leading the NFL for rushing yards and breaking the record for yards from scrimmage with 2,509 yards. Johnson retired in 2017 after a very productive career finishing with 9,651 rushing yards, 55 rushing touchdowns and 9 receiving touchdowns.
Chris Johnson 91-Yard Touchdown (Week 2, 2009) pic.twitter.com/vo0l9PtXg8
— wheres the money lebowski (@steezykickflipz) April 28, 2023
6. Kalon Barnes (4.23 seconds)
Kalon Barnes clocked a 40-yard dash time of 4.23 seconds, the second fastest time ever since electronic timing was introduced to the NFL Combine in 1999. The cornerback was drafted in the seventh round by the Carolina Panthers and was signed by the Minnesota Vikings from the Miami Dolphins practice squad in 2023.
5. John Ross (4.22 seconds)
John Ross broke Chris Johnson’s nine-year 40-yard dash record in 2017 when he clocked a time of 4.22 seconds which is the fastest time ever at the NFL Combine. Immediately after the sprint he pulled up with a strained calf in a sign of things to come.
The Cincinnati Bengals picked him up at ninth overall in the draft with only two other wide receivers picked ahead of him. In his first ever game in the NFL he fumbled the ball on his only carry which ended up being the only touch in his rookie season. In four injury interrupted seasons with the Bengals he played 27 games and caught only 51 passes.
Full list of players to run a faster 40-yard dash at the combine than John Ross:pic.twitter.com/3T0TYhDAXo
— PFF (@PFF) February 22, 2020
4. Bo Jackson 4.12 (seconds)
During the 1986 combine Auburn running back Bo Jackson ran the 40-yard dash in a phenomenal 4.12 seconds. Because it was hand-timed the International Association of Athletics Federations has a standard to add 0.24 seconds to convert it to the equivalent of an electronic-timed run.
Whether or not Jackson’s 4.12-second 40-yard dash is legitimate is up for conjecture but there’s no doubt that Jackson is the fastest pound-for-pound player of all time. Jackson is also the only person in history to be named an All-Star in two major American sports.
In 1989 he became an MLB All-Star while at the Kansas City Royals. In just four seasons with the Raiders he rushed for 2,782 yards, 18 touchdowns and earned a Pro Bowl appearance in 1990.
3. Renaldo Nehemiah (4.10 seconds)
In 1979 Renaldo Nehemiah ran 100 metres in 10.24 seconds. It was the 110 meter hurdles however which was his favorite event with a personal best time of 12.93 in 1981. Nehemiah never played football in college but after working out with several teams the 49ers took a shot on him in 1982 after they clocked him running the 40-yard dash in 4.1 seconds.
After three seasons as a wide receiver he caught 43 passes for 754 yards at an average of 17.5 yards per reception. Nehemiah scored four touchdowns in his career and won Super Bowl XIX, albeit playing a minor role. Although Nehemiah was criticised for his inability to catch the football, he was one of the fastest NFL players ever and forced opposing defenses into deep coverage.
2. Darrell Green (4.09 seconds)
Darrell Green was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1983. He is considered one of the greatest cornerbacks of all-time and spent his entire 20-year career at the Washington Redskins. After retirement and to celebrate Green’s 50th birthday he ran the 40-yard dash in an incredible 4.43 seconds in 2010.
Green made 1,159 tackles, 54 interceptions and returned six of those for touchdowns. He was also able to close down gaps on some of the fastest running backs in the game. Although only rumours, it’s suggested he consistently ran 4.09 during Washington’s 1986 training camp.
In 1982 while attending Texas A&I University he ran a 10.08 time in the 100 meters making Green’s claimed 40-yard dash time of 4.09 seconds highly probable, and making him the second fastest NFL player ever.
1. Bob Hayes (4.00 seconds)
Bob Hayes won both a Super Bowl and an Olympic gold medal and is the fastest NFL player of all time. He starred for the Cowboys in 11 seasons and played a final season with the 49ers. He scored 71 touchdowns in his career, became Super Bowl VI champion, was a three-time Pro Bowler and was receiving touchdowns leader twice.
Hayes won an Olympic gold medal at Tokyo 1964, tying the world record of 10 seconds flat and breaking the Olympic record in the process. A year earlier he clocked a time of 9.1 seconds while at Florida A&M University with a wind-assisted 0.85m/s in a competition which he peaked at a top speed of 12.47m/s.
Unfortunately there’s no official 40-yard dash records for Hayes but during his 9.1 second run he recorded a 60-yard split in six seconds. Journalist Ralph Wiley also reported that he ran 60 yards with a handheld time of 5.28 seconds.
When you make the calculation, Bob Hayes could run the 40-yard dash in four seconds making him the fastest NFL player ever.
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