The 4.80 Second Lie: Why Patrick Mahomes' NFL Combine 40-Yard Dash Time Is Completely Misleading

Patrick Mahomes’ official 40-yard dash time of 4.80 seconds from the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine is one of the most cited, and arguably most misleading, statistics of his career. For a generation of fans used to seeing quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson or even Russell Wilson run sub-4.6 second times, 4.80 seconds sounds pedestrian. However, as of the current date, December 10, 2025, the reality of Mahomes' athleticism is that the straight-line 40-yard dash is a poor measure of his elite, chaotic, and game-breaking speed.

The true story of the Kansas City Chiefs' superstar quarterback lies not in his top-end speed over 40 yards, but in his exceptional short-area quickness and change-of-direction ability, which were demonstrated in other Combine drills. His on-field performance, tracked by Next Gen Stats, consistently proves that his functional football speed is far superior to what the stopwatch suggested seven years ago, making the 4.80 mark a 'lie' that almost cost teams a generational talent.

Patrick Mahomes II: Full Biography and Athletic Profile

Patrick Lavon Mahomes II has quickly established himself as one of the most decorated and innovative quarterbacks in NFL history. His journey from a multi-sport athlete in Texas to a multiple Super Bowl champion is a testament to his unique blend of arm talent, creativity, and functional athleticism.

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• Full Name: Patrick Lavon Mahomes II
• Date of Birth: September 17, 1995
• Hometown: Tyler, Texas
• High School: Whitehouse High School (Whitehouse, Texas)
• College: Texas Tech University (Played both football and baseball)
• NFL Draft: 2017, Round 1, Pick 10 (Kansas City Chiefs)
• Position: Quarterback (QB)
• Team: Kansas City Chiefs
• Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
• Weight: 225 lbs (102 kg)
• Hand Size (Combine): 9 1/4 inches
• Wife: Brittany Mahomes (née Matthews)
• Father: Patrick Mahomes Sr. (Former MLB pitcher)

Major Career Milestones (Selected Entities)

• 3x Super Bowl Champion (LIV, LVII, LVIII)
• 3x Super Bowl MVP (LIV, LVII, LVIII)
• 2x NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) (2018, 2022)
• 3x First-team All-Pro (2018, 2020, 2022)
• Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs (General Manager: Brett Veach)
• Coached by Andy Reid (Head Coach)
• Holds the NFL record for most passing yards in a season (5,097 in 2022) and total yards (5,614 in 2022) by a quarterback.

The Full Patrick Mahomes 2017 NFL Combine Results Breakdown

While the 4.80-second 40-yard dash is the number that gets the most attention, a deeper dive into his full measurable results from the 2017 Combine reveals why he is such a uniquely elusive player on the field. The 40-yard dash measures pure acceleration and top speed, but the agility drills—the 20-yard shuttle and the 3-cone drill—measure the crucial elements of a quarterback’s scrambling ability: burst, balance, and change-of-direction.

Mahomes' Speed and Agility Metrics

• 40-Yard Dash: 4.80 seconds
• 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.08 seconds
• 3-Cone Drill: 6.88 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 30.0 inches
• Broad Jump: 9 ft 6 in (114 inches)

The 4.80-second 40-time placed Mahomes in the 55th percentile among quarterbacks, making him statistically average for the drill. However, his agility drills were elite. His 4.08-second 20-yard shuttle time was in the 94th percentile for quarterbacks, tied with players known for quickness like Cooper Kupp. His 6.88-second 3-cone drill placed him in the 88th percentile, faster than many other notable quarterbacks, including Russell Wilson.

This is the key takeaway for understanding Mahomes' movement: he is not a long-striding burner, but he possesses elite short-area quickness and the ability to rapidly shift his weight and change direction. This functional speed is what allows him to escape pressure, extend plays, and throw off-platform passes that defy physics.

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How Mahomes' Agility Trumps His 40-Time: A Comparative Analysis

The discrepancy between Patrick Mahomes' average 40-yard dash time and his elite agility drill times is a perfect case study in the difference between "track speed" and "football speed." When comparing him to other signal-callers, the context of the 4.80 seconds becomes clear.

40-Yard Dash Comparison (Selected Quarterbacks)

To put Mahomes' 4.80-second time in perspective, here are the official 40-yard dash times for several prominent NFL quarterbacks:

• Lamar Jackson (Ravens): Did not run at Combine, estimated sub-4.4 seconds (Elite Scrambler)
• Robert Griffin III (Former): 4.41 seconds (Fastest QB combine time)
• Jalen Hurts (Eagles): 4.59 seconds
• Josh Allen (Bills): 4.75 seconds
• Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs): 4.80 seconds
• Jared Goff (Lions): 4.82 seconds
• Brock Purdy (49ers): 4.84 seconds
• Tom Brady (Former): 5.28 seconds (Slowest QB time)

Mahomes is clearly slower than true dual-threat quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson or Jalen Hurts. However, he is comparable to pocket passers with decent mobility like Jared Goff and Brock Purdy. The critical difference is his superior performance in the agility drills. His 6.88-second 3-cone drill is faster than the times posted by Carson Wentz (6.86 seconds) and Mitch Trubisky (6.87 seconds), demonstrating a high level of body control and balance that few quarterbacks possess.

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The Next Gen Stats Perspective: Mahomes' In-Game Speed and Scrambling Ability

The most compelling evidence that the 4.80-second 40-yard dash time is irrelevant comes from the NFL's Next Gen Stats (NGS) tracking data. NGS measures a player's real-time speed on the field, offering a better look at *functional* football athleticism. While Mahomes may not hit the 22+ MPH speeds of top wide receivers like Tyreek Hill or Mecole Hardman, his burst in the pocket is what matters.

On a critical 5-yard scramble run during a game, Patrick Mahomes was tracked reaching a top speed of 18.14 mph. This is a significant burst of speed over a short distance, which is exactly what is required to evade a defensive end or linebacker in the pocket. His ability to accelerate from a standstill, drop his shoulder, and change direction rapidly—a skill honed by his 4.08-second shuttle time—is what makes him so difficult to sack.

His unique running style, often described as a "functional weirdness," is characterized by quick, choppy steps and sudden shifts, allowing him to navigate the chaos of the pocket. This combination of elite agility and spatial awareness, often referred to as "spatial genius," allows him to maximize his 4.80 speed in a way that truly impacts the game. He doesn't need to run 40 yards; he only needs to run 5–10 yards to extend the play and unleash one of his signature sidearm or no-look throws.

In conclusion, while the 4.80-second 40-yard dash time is a technical fact from the 2017 NFL Combine, it fails to capture the essence of Patrick Mahomes' athleticism. His elite agility scores in the 20-yard shuttle and 3-cone drill, combined with his proven in-game burst measured by Next Gen Stats, confirm that he is one of the most functionally mobile and elusive quarterbacks in the NFL. The next time the 4.80 time is mentioned, remember that his ability to escape pressure and extend plays is a direct result of his elite short-area quickness, making the straight-line speed metric a truly misleading statistic.