Fastest 40-Yard Dash Times, NFL History

[casmith07]

The Official Unofficial Sub 4.3 Forty Yard Dash List at Gridironstuds.com

1 Bo Jackson Auburn Tigers 4.12
2 Michael Bennett Minnesota Vikings 4.13
3 Alexander Wright Dallas Cowboys 4.14
4 Darrell Green Washington Redskins 4.15
5 Ahman Green Nebraska Cornhuskers 4.17
6 Joey Galloway Ohio St. Buckeyes 4.18
7 Deion Sanders Florida St. Seminoles 4.21
8 Kevin Curtis Utah Utes 4.21
9 Don Beebe Buffalo Bills 4.21
10 Donte Stallworth Tennessee Volunteers 4.22
11 Willie Parker North Carolina Tar Heels 4.23
12 Rondel Melendez Eastern Kentucky (1999) 4.24
13 Chris Johnson East Carolina Pirates 4.24
14 Taylor Mays USC 4.24
15 Randy Moss Marshall University 4.25
16 Michael Vick Virginia Tech Hokies 4.25
17 Jerome Mathis Hampton 4.25
18 Devin Hester University of Miami 4.27
19 Darren McFadden Arkansas Razorbacks 4.27
20 James Jett West Virginia 4.27
21 Jacoby Ford Clemson Tigers 4.27
22 Trindon Holliday LSU 4.27
22 Kevin Williams University of Miami 4.28
23 Champ Bailey Georgia Bulldogs 4.28
24 CJ Spiller Clemson Tigers 4.28
25 Raghib Ismail Notre Dame Fighting Irish 4.28
26 Standord Routt University of Houston (2005) 4.29
27 Fabian Washington Nebraska Cornhuskers 4.29
28 Laveranues Coles Florida St. Seminoles 4.29
29 James Williams Fresno St. 4.29
30 Gaston Green UCLA 4.29

[Biggems]

Alexander Wright
Faster than the speed of Light
But dropped every ball in Site
He was the anti-Dynomite

[AmarilloCowboyFan]

I had no idea Bo held the record. That's amazing considering how big he was.

[DFWJC]

Cool list.

A key point is that little word that sometimes gets in the way called "unofficial".

[Zimmy Lives]

The Official Unofficial Sub 4.3 Forty Yard Dash List at Gridironstuds.com

1 Bo Jackson Auburn Tigers 4.12
2 Michael Bennett Minnesota Vikings 4.13
3 Alexander Wright Dallas Cowboys 4.14
4 Darrell Green Washington Redskins 4.15
5 Ahman Green Nebraska Cornhuskers 4.17
6 Joey Galloway Ohio St. Buckeyes 4.18
7 Deion Sanders Florida St. Seminoles 4.21
8 Kevin Curtis Utah Utes 4.21
9 Don Beebe Buffalo Bills 4.21
10 Donte Stallworth Tennessee Volunteers 4.22
11 Willie Parker North Carolina Tar Heels 4.23
12 Rondel Melendez Eastern Kentucky (1999) 4.24
13 Chris Johnson East Carolina Pirates 4.24
14 Taylor Mays USC 4.24
15 Randy Moss Marshall University 4.25
16 Michael Vick Virginia Tech Hokies 4.25
17 Jerome Mathis Hampton 4.25
18 Devin Hester University of Miami 4.27
19 Darren McFadden Arkansas Razorbacks 4.27
20 James Jett West Virginia 4.27
21 Jacoby Ford Clemson Tigers 4.27
22 Trindon Holliday LSU 4.27
22 Kevin Williams University of Miami 4.28
23 Champ Bailey Georgia Bulldogs 4.28
24 CJ Spiller Clemson Tigers 4.28
25 Raghib Ismail Notre Dame Fighting Irish 4.28
26 Standord Routt University of Houston (2005) 4.29
27 Fabian Washington Nebraska Cornhuskers 4.29
28 Laveranues Coles Florida St. Seminoles 4.29
29 James Williams Fresno St. 4.29
30 Gaston Green UCLA 4.29

Interesting that Green is the only one I know for sure is in the HOF. Bailey will get there as well as maybe Deion but that's it. All DBs. Hmmmm.

[MonsterD]

Cool list.

A key point is that little word that sometimes gets in the way called "unofficial".

Some not all of those times are fudged by hand-timing.

I am not saying that electronic timing is foolproof, but it is more accurate.

This is like when al those guys say they are going to run a 4.2 at the combine and then they run a 4.5 or a late 4.4. Most of that is just from crap timing, only one I can think of that did what he boasted was Chris Johnson.

[Zimmy Lives]

Alexander Wright
Faster than the speed of Light
But dropped every ball in Site
He was the anti-Dynomite

You are so right!

[tm1119]

Sorry but I don't buy anything under 4.2. Those times have to extremely unofficial

[JackWagon]

Interesting that Green is the only one I know for sure is in the HOF. Bailey will get there as well as maybe Deion but that's it. All DBs. Hmmmm.

Deion Sanders is in the Hall. :)

[CCBoy]

Further on Wright:

Alexander Wright

Position: WR
Height: 6-0 Weight: 195 lbs.

Born: July 19, 1967 in Albany, GA
College: Auburn (school history)
Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2nd round (26th overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft.

Receiving/ Rushing
Year Age Tm Pos No. G GS Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Att Yds TD Lng Y/A Y/G A/G YScm RRTD Fmb AV
1990 23 DAL 81 15 1 (11 104) 9.5 0 20 0.7 6.9 3 26 0 14 8.7 1.7 0.2 130 0 1 2
1991 24 DAL KR/wr 81 16 5 (10 170) 17.0 0 53 0.6 10.6 2 -1 0 3 -0.5 -0.1 0.1 169 0 0 3
1992 25 2TM KR/ 13 1 12 175 14.6 2 41 0.9 13.5 175 2 1 1
RAI KR 89 10 1 12 175 14.6 2 41 1.2 17.5 175 2 1 1
DAL 81 3 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0
1993 26 RAI WR 89 15 15 (27 462) 17.1 4 68 1.8 30.8 462 4 0 4
1994 27 RAI WR 89 16 15 (16 294) 18.4 2 76 1.0 18.4 294 2 0 3
1995 28 STL wr 89 8 7 (23 368) 16.0 2 50 2.9 46.0 1 17 0 17 17.0 2.1 0.1 385 2 0 3
1996 29 STL 89 3 0 (2 24) 12.0 0 13 0.7 8.0 24 0 0 0


Career 86 44 101 1597 15.8 10 76 1.2 18.6 6 42 0 17 7.0 0.5 0.1 1639 10 2 16
3 yrs DAL 34 6 (21 274) 13.0 0 53 0.6 8.1 5 25 0 14 5.0 0.7 0.1 299 0 1 5
3 yrs RAI 41 31 55 931 16.9 8 76 1.3 22.7 931 8 1 8
2 yrs STL 11 7 25 392 15.7 2 50 2.3 35.6 1 17 0 17 17.0 1.5 0.1 409 2 0 3

[Verdict]

There is no doubt that the players on this list are all fast, but I seriously doubt that these times are accurate, and I have to think that in an actual foot race with all of these players lined up on the same starting line at the same time, that the order of finish would be substantially different than this list.

[casmith07]

My dad said that Bo Jackson was the greatest athlete he had ever seen aside from Carl Lewis.

[CCBoy]

My dad said that Bo Jackson was the greatest athlete he had ever seen aside from Carl Lewis.

MVP in both MLB and NFL All Star Games in the same season...yea, I'd agree.

[casmith07]

MVP in both MLB and NFL All Star Games in the same season...yea, I'd agree.

Bo could outrun a routine ground ball to 2nd base. Like, safe at 1st by a mile outrun it. Insanity.

[Aven8]

And to think most of these guys didn't have all these training gadgets, Gatoraid G-2 fuel, Under Armor spandex with a heart monitor built in, training facilities where they could practice this crap.

[JonJon]

Interesting that Green is the only one I know for sure is in the HOF. Bailey will get there as well as maybe Deion but that's it. All DBs. Hmmmm.

Deion Sanders is in the Hall. :)

Yeah, Deion made it last year.

[Tex]

There is no doubt that the players on this list are all fast, but I seriously doubt that these times are accurate, and I have to think that in an actual foot race with all of these players lined up on the same starting line at the same time, that the order of finish would be substantially different than this list.

Would be more fun if we put them all in full football pads. I would still take BO on top.

Cowboy

[ZeroClub]

That's quite a list. Interesting in many ways.

I'm a little surprised to see Kevin Williams on the list. He was quick, but I didn't think of him as having elite speed.

[bark]

forgot how fast don bebe was....poor leon..:rolleyes:

[hutch1254]

Bo could outrun a routine ground ball to 2nd base. Like, safe at 1st by a mile outrun it. Insanity.

Yes, dude was unreal. Still love him breaking the bat over his thigh like it was a toothpick. One swift motion. Good Lord.

[Zimmy Lives]

Yeah, Deion made it last year.

Thanks guys!

I still find it interesting that no RBs and WRs with speed are in the HOF. Maybe Moss breaks that streak but it's still very telling.

Maybe offensive speed is overrated?

[cobra]

1 Bo Jackson Auburn Tigers 4.12
2 Michael Bennett Minnesota Vikings 4.13
3 Alexander Wright Dallas Cowboys 4.14
4 Darrell Green Washington Redskins 4.15
5 Ahman Green Nebraska Cornhuskers 4.17
6 Joey Galloway Ohio St. Buckeyes 4.18
7 Deion Sanders Florida St. Seminoles 4.21


Random thoughts:

1. The sub 4.2 times are almost certainly inaccurate.

2. I even question Deion's 4.21 time. No doubt he was exceptionally fast. And I am confident that he is the fastest player with pads on in NFL history. But 4.21 seems even too fast for the great Deion on a track.

3. I buy the fastest guys as Alexander Wright, Darrell Green, Deion Sanders and Joey Galloway. Those are all obviously fast runners. I just don't buy their times as that low.

4. I think the Michael Bennett and Ahman Green times are complete nonsense. Bennett is fast, but Green is nothing special. I'd be shocked if he ran better than a 4.35. Chris Johnson at a legit 4.24 would destroy Ahman Green and Michael Bennett.

5. Bo is just impossible to guess. Yes, he was exceedingly fast. That is unquestionable. Fastest NFL player ever? I just can't see it. He was too big. I can't fathom that he could carry his weight more so than these lean sprinters. Of course, Bo at his size at 4.3 is more impressive to me to than Darrell Green at 4.2something. So that is no knock on Bo. He certainly has the greatest combination of size and speed, but I'm just not certain I'll buy him as the fastest outright.

6. Speaking of combination of size and speed, I would expect to see Hershel Walker on this list. He was amazingly fast coming out of college.

[Sam I Am]

I expect the years with those times damnit! You're slacking casmith07! :D

[Oh_Canada]

My dad said that Bo Jackson was the greatest athlete he had ever seen aside from Carl Lewis.

I really think Bo was an even better athlete than Lewis. If he trained to be a sprinter I have no doubt he would have been world class. On the other hand I don't think Lewis could hit a curveball or run over Brian Bosworth.

[ologan]

forgot how fast don bebe was....poor leon..:rolleyes:

Was thinking the exact same thing!

[casmith07]

Random thoughts:

1. The sub 4.2 times are almost certainly inaccurate.

2. I even question Deion's 4.21 time. No doubt he was exceptionally fast. And I am confident that he is the fastest player with pads on in NFL history. But 4.21 seems even too fast for the great Deion on a track.

3. I buy the fastest guys as Alexander Wright, Darrell Green, Deion Sanders and Joey Galloway. Those are all obviously fast runners. I just don't buy their times as that low.

4. I think the Michael Bennett and Ahman Green times are complete nonsense. Bennett is fast, but Green is nothing special. I'd be shocked if he ran better than a 4.35. Chris Johnson at a legit 4.24 would destroy Ahman Green and Michael Bennett.

5. Bo is just impossible to guess. Yes, he was exceedingly fast. That is unquestionable. Fastest NFL player ever? I just can't see it. He was too big. I can't fathom that he could carry his weight more so than these lean sprinters. Of course, Bo at his size at 4.3 is more impressive to me to than Darrell Green at 4.2something. So that is no knock on Bo. He certainly has the greatest combination of size and speed, but I'm just not certain I'll buy him as the fastest outright.

6. Speaking of combination of size and speed, I would expect to see Hershel Walker on this list. He was amazingly fast coming out of college.

Dude, Bo Jackson would reach base on routine infield ground balls to 2ND BASE.

[casmith07]

Yes, dude was unreal. Still love him breaking the bat over his thigh like it was a toothpick. One swift motion. Good Lord.

He once broke a bat over his head. He was holding the bat on top of his helmet, and just flexed and it snapped in two. Here's the video of all his craziness. He is a freak of nature.

Bs-1hPkLKeQ

[Muhast]

I never really think of Ahman green as a blazer. I know Michael Bennett was a ncaa track champion so ill give him some credit

[hutch1254]

He once broke a bat over his head. He was holding the bat on top of his helmet, and just flexed and it snapped in two. Here's the video of all his craziness. He is a freak of nature.


Thanks for the video. Great stuff. Guy was lightning fast. One of a handful of guys who truly had an extra gear...and then some.

Him outrunning the grounder to a charging second baseman is incredible.

[realtick]

I'm surprised no one else mentioned that it's no small coincedence that 1/3 of the players (in bold) on that list were at one-time former LA/Oakland Raiders.


The Official Unofficial Sub 4.3 Forty Yard Dash List at Gridironstuds.com

1 Bo Jackson Auburn Tigers 4.12
2 Michael Bennett Minnesota Vikings 4.13
3 Alexander Wright Dallas Cowboys 4.14
4 Darrell Green Washington Redskins 4.15
5 Ahman Green Nebraska Cornhuskers 4.17
6 Joey Galloway Ohio St. Buckeyes 4.18
7 Deion Sanders Florida St. Seminoles 4.21
8 Kevin Curtis Utah Utes 4.21
9 Don Beebe Buffalo Bills 4.21
10 Donte Stallworth Tennessee Volunteers 4.22
11 Willie Parker North Carolina Tar Heels 4.23
12 Rondel Melendez Eastern Kentucky (1999) 4.24
13 Chris Johnson East Carolina Pirates 4.24
14 Taylor Mays USC 4.24
15 Randy Moss Marshall University 4.25
16 Michael Vick Virginia Tech Hokies 4.25
17 Jerome Mathis Hampton 4.25
18 Devin Hester University of Miami 4.27
19 Darren McFadden Arkansas Razorbacks 4.27
20 James Jett West Virginia 4.27
21 Jacoby Ford Clemson Tigers 4.27
22 Trindon Holliday LSU 4.27
22 Kevin Williams University of Miami 4.28
23 Champ Bailey Georgia Bulldogs 4.28
24 CJ Spiller Clemson Tigers 4.28
25 Rahgib Ismail Notre Dame Fighting Irish 4.28
26 Stanford Routt University of Houston (2005) 4.29
27 Fabian Washington Nebraska Cornhuskers 4.29
28 Laveranues Coles Florida St. Seminoles 4.29
29 James Williams Fresno St. 4.29
30 Gaston Green UCLA 4.29

[Idgit]

I had no idea Bo held the record. That's amazing considering how big he was.

He was the best athlete I've ever seen play. Would have been the best all time, in my opinion, if he'd been healthier.

[ZeroClub]

6. Speaking of combination of size and speed, I would expect to see Hershel Walker on this list. He was amazingly fast coming out of college.

I doubt Walker even went to the combine. He left GA early, after signing with an agent if I remember correctly, and went directly to the USFL.

You are right, though, he was fast.

[cowboy_ron]

I had no idea Bo held the record. That's amazing considering how big he was.
Bo was a beast

[joseephuss]

MVP in both MLB and NFL All Star Games in the same season...yea, I'd agree.

That is not true. Bo only made one Pro-Bowl and he was not the MVP in that game. Jim Kelly was the MVP that year.

[joseephuss]

I doubt Walker even went to the combine. He left GA early, after signing with an agent if I remember correctly, and went directly to the USFL.

You are right, though, he was fast.

Are those combine numbers? I thought they were just unofficial numbers gathered from different sources.

[TheCowboy]

Wow great post. Thank you!

[JackWagon]

Those are some cool numbers (probably pretty accurate from pro days and such) ... but i want to see an official list of combine numbers. Whats the top 20 all time 40 times from the combine.

[DFWJC]

Some not all of those times are fudged by hand-timing.

I am not saying that electronic timing is foolproof, but it is more accurate.

This is like when al those guys say they are going to run a 4.2 at the combine and then they run a 4.5 or a late 4.4. Most of that is just from crap timing, only one I can think of that did what he boasted was Chris Johnson.
Yeah.
40 times are the most fudged stat out there. The times to really be wary of are those on-campus hand-timed ones. Oddly, they always end up being faster than when the perspon is timed more offcially. Funny how that works.

[CCBoy]

That is not true. Bo only made one Pro-Bowl and he was not the MVP in that game. Jim Kelly was the MVP that year.

So, let's do a little defining of intent...then you admit that he was in both MLB and NFL All Star Games?

Was he by chance league MVP any season in the NFL?

As we are only defining superlatives from the start...(cough)

And the MVP for MLB All Star game was: 1989 Bo Jackson

...but in 89: 1989 February 4, 1990 NFC, 27-21 NFC, 12-8 Jerry Gray, Rams

Kelly won it in 90'

I'll answer my own question on Leabue MVP: 89 it was• Joe Montana, QB

[Tex]

Info on some of the past 40 times including Bo's as well as changes starting this year on how they will be timed. Interesting as they time manually. But in the recent past they have also timed 40's where the first movement by the guy started the time and a laser beam at the finish line closed it out.

Now they are talking about having a all electric run from start to end. But it will increase most 40 times a couple TENTHS. So a 4.4 is going to be 4.6 under the new timing method.

But they are not even going to RELEASE those times to the athletes or teams??? ***

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/17408448/new-timing-method-in-40-could-lead-to-culture-shock-for-players

Heck I was surprised at how UNOFFICIAL the current method is.

"The fastest verifiable time in combine history was 4.12 seconds by Bo Jackson in 1986 on manual watches in the Superdome.

There are numerous stories that Deion Sanders ran faster than 4.2 seconds at another Superdome combine. But research indicates he was timed in 4.28 seconds at best on one of the so-called "official" watches.

Even before the inclusion of the secret FAT timings this year, there was confusion among the media and fans over so-called "official" 40 times. And the reason is simple -- there really is no single, "official" 40 time.

Here is what happens to get the 40 times at the combine that are revealed:

• Those who participate in the 40 run twice, and on each run they are timed by two hand-held stopwatches and one electronic timer (initiated by hand on the player's first movement).

• Combine data put together for NFL teams by National Scouting includes all six of those times for each player, but no single official time.

Team scouts and coaches have various approaches for reaching agreement on a 40 time they use from those six timings. Some use averages. Some throw out slowest and fastest and then average the rest. Some ignore the whole thing and use a time taken by their own scout. "

Tex

[CCBoy]

Info on some of the past 40 times including Bo's as well as changes starting this year on how they will be timed. Interesting as they time manually. But in the recent past they have also timed 40's where the first movement by the guy started the time and a laser beam at the finish line closed it out.

Now they are talking about having a all electric run from start to end. But it will increase most 40 times a couple TENTHS. So a 4.4 is going to be 4.6 under the new timing method.

But they are not even going to RELEASE those times to the athletes or teams??? ***

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/17408448/new-timing-method-in-40-could-lead-to-culture-shock-for-players

Heck I was surprised at how UNOFFICIAL the current method is.

"The fastest verifiable time in combine history was 4.12 seconds by Bo Jackson in 1986 on manual watches in the Superdome.

There are numerous stories that Deion Sanders ran faster than 4.2 seconds at another Superdome combine. But research indicates he was timed in 4.28 seconds at best on one of the so-called "official" watches.

Even before the inclusion of the secret FAT timings this year, there was confusion among the media and fans over so-called "official" 40 times. And the reason is simple -- there really is no single, "official" 40 time.

Here is what happens to get the 40 times at the combine that are revealed:

• Those who participate in the 40 run twice, and on each run they are timed by two hand-held stopwatches and one electronic timer (initiated by hand on the player's first movement).

• Combine data put together for NFL teams by National Scouting includes all six of those times for each player, but no single official time.

Team scouts and coaches have various approaches for reaching agreement on a 40 time they use from those six timings. Some use averages. Some throw out slowest and fastest and then average the rest. Some ignore the whole thing and use a time taken by their own scout. "

Tex

Thanks, nice addition...

[TheCount]

Ahman Green ran a 4.1?!

[interestedobserver]

I've always wanted to know what Hussein Bolt could have done on a football field if he grew up here. 6'5" and easily faster than any of those guys. If he could catch, how would you defend him?

[DFWJC]

Ahman Green ran a 4.1?!
You can almost 100% be sure that he did not.....not officially anyway.

[Tex]

I've always wanted to know what Hussein Bolt could have done on a football field if he grew up here. 6'5" and easily faster than any of those guys. If he could catch, how would you defend him?

Bobby Hays changed the game of football as we know it. People forget how much he really did alter how pass defense was done in those old days and was not really great at catching the ball.

I dont think todays NFL would have to make the radical changes to combat Bolt that Hays caused.

But I would of loved to see the "race" Chris Johnson kept trying to pimp between he and Bolt. He at least had a sprinters background I think.

Tex

[realtick]

Info on some of the past 40 times including Bo's as well as changes starting this year on how they will be timed. Interesting as they time manually. But in the recent past they have also timed 40's where the first movement by the guy started the time and a laser beam at the finish line closed it out.

Now they are talking about having a all electric run from start to end. But it will increase most 40 times a couple TENTHS. So a 4.4 is going to be 4.6 under the new timing method.

But they are not even going to RELEASE those times to the athletes or teams??? ***

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/17408448/new-timing-method-in-40-could-lead-to-culture-shock-for-players

Heck I was surprised at how UNOFFICIAL the current method is.

"The fastest verifiable time in combine history was 4.12 seconds by Bo Jackson in 1986 on manual watches in the Superdome.

There are numerous stories that Deion Sanders ran faster than 4.2 seconds at another Superdome combine. But research indicates he was timed in 4.28 seconds at best on one of the so-called "official" watches.

Even before the inclusion of the secret FAT timings this year, there was confusion among the media and fans over so-called "official" 40 times. And the reason is simple -- there really is no single, "official" 40 time.

Here is what happens to get the 40 times at the combine that are revealed:

• Those who participate in the 40 run twice, and on each run they are timed by two hand-held stopwatches and one electronic timer (initiated by hand on the player's first movement).

• Combine data put together for NFL teams by National Scouting includes all six of those times for each player, but no single official time.

Team scouts and coaches have various approaches for reaching agreement on a 40 time they use from those six timings. Some use averages. Some throw out slowest and fastest and then average the rest. Some ignore the whole thing and use a time taken by their own scout. "

Tex

Good stuff and news to me.

[Teague31]

Alexander Wright
Faster than the speed of Light
But dropped every ball in Site
He was the anti-Dynomite

:bow: