Tyreek Hill’s speed is not just a talking point; it is a legendary, game-changing phenomenon that has defined his entire NFL career. As of today, December 12, 2025, the wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins remains in the conversation for the fastest man in the National Football League, earning him the nickname "The Cheetah."
The true measure of his blazing speed is often debated, revolving around a single, highly-anticipated sprint: the 40-yard dash. While many fans cite various times, the official clocking from his pre-draft process is a specific, eye-popping number that confirms his elite status and sets the foundation for his record-breaking on-field performance, which is now tracked with incredible precision by Next Gen Stats (NGS). The combination of his official 40-yard time and his documented top speed in miles per hour (MPH) provides the most comprehensive picture of his world-class athleticism.
Tyreek Hill: The Cheetah's Complete Biography and Profile
Before diving into the numbers that define his speed, here is a quick look at the man behind the nickname "The Cheetah." Tyreek Hill has established himself as one of the most dominant and electrifying wide receivers in the modern era of professional football.
- Full Name: Tyreek Hill
- Date of Birth: March 1, 1994
- Age: 31 (as of December 12, 2025)
- Hometown: Pearson, Georgia
- Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
- Weight: 191 lbs (87 kg)
- Position: Wide Receiver (WR)
- Current Team: Miami Dolphins (since 2022)
- Previous Team: Kansas City Chiefs (2016–2021)
- College: University of West Alabama (also attended Oklahoma State University and Garden City Community College)
- NFL Draft: 2016, Round 5, Pick 165 (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Career Highlights: Multiple Pro Bowl selections, Multiple First-team All-Pro selections, Super Bowl Champion (LIV).
The Official Tyreek Hill 40-Yard Dash Time: 4.29 Seconds
The most commonly cited and accepted official 40-yard dash time for Tyreek Hill is 4.29 seconds. This time was not recorded at the traditional NFL Scouting Combine, as Hill was not invited due to off-field issues from his past.
Instead, he ran the blistering time at the University of West Alabama Pro Day in 2016. This 4.29-second mark is the number that NFL scouts and analysts use when discussing his pre-draft speed metrics.
Why the 4.29 Time is Often Debated
Despite the Pro Day clocking, the discussion around his speed often includes faster, unofficial times. Some reports from his rookie year and before have mentioned times as low as 4.24 seconds or even 4.21 seconds. These faster times are often hand-timed or come from less official sources, which is why the 4.29 seconds from his electronically-timed Pro Day is generally considered his official benchmark.
Regardless of the exact number, the 4.29-second dash places him in the elite tier of NFL speed, comparable to the fastest times ever recorded at the Combine, such as Chris Johnson’s 4.24 and John Ross’s 4.22.
Next Gen Stats: Tyreek Hill's Top Speed in MPH
While the 40-yard dash measures acceleration and top-end speed over a short distance, the most up-to-date and relevant metric for judging speed in a live game setting is miles per hour (MPH), tracked by the NFL's Next Gen Stats (NGS). This data confirms that Hill's speed has not diminished with age, making him one of the fastest players of the 2020s.
Hill's career-best speed recorded by NGS is a staggering 22.77 mph, which he achieved on an 86-yard kickoff return during his rookie season in 2016. This mark was, for a long time, the fastest speed recorded by any ball-carrier since the NGS tracking began.
Tyreek Hill’s Recent Elite Speed (2023 Season)
His speed remains elite even as he enters his 30s. During the 2023 NFL season, Tyreek Hill continued to post speeds that ranked among the league's fastest, cementing his status as a generational talent. He clocked speeds of 22.07 mph and 21.66 mph on various plays, consistently challenging for the top spot on the weekly NGS leaderboard. His ability to maintain a top speed of over 21.5 mph deep into a season is a testament to his conditioning and explosive power.
This on-field velocity, often hitting over 22 mph, is what truly separates him from his peers, as it happens while wearing full pads and navigating a field of defenders.
The Ultimate Showdown: Tyreek Hill vs. Usain Bolt in a 40-Yard Dash
The question that fuels endless debates among sports fans is whether the fastest man in the NFL could beat the fastest man in human history in a 40-yard sprint. This hypothetical matchup between Tyreek Hill and eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt is the ultimate curiosity test.
While Hill's official 40-yard time is 4.29 seconds, Usain Bolt’s estimated 40-yard dash time is significantly faster. When Bolt ran his 100-meter world record, his split time for the first 40 yards was estimated to be around 4.09 seconds or possibly even faster.
- Tyreek Hill’s Official 40-Yard Time: 4.29 seconds
- Usain Bolt’s Estimated 40-Yard Time: ~4.09 seconds
The consensus among experts and even Bolt himself is that the Jamaican sprint legend would win the race. The difference lies in the start and acceleration. A professional sprinter like Bolt is trained to generate maximum power from a stationary start without the need to carry a football or wear pads. However, the comparison is still a high compliment to Hill, as it places him in a conversation with a global icon of speed.
Topical Authority: Tyreek Hill's Place Among NFL Speed Legends
Tyreek Hill's combination of 40-yard dash time and recorded top speed places him at the very top of the list of the fastest NFL players of all time. His speed is a critical component of the Miami Dolphins' offensive strategy, where his ability to stretch the field vertically is unparalleled. When discussing NFL speed, several key entities are always mentioned alongside Hill:
- John Ross: Holds the official NFL Combine record with a 4.22-second 40-yard dash.
- Chris Johnson: Held the Combine record for years with a 4.24-second 40-yard dash.
- De'Von Achane: Hill's teammate on the Dolphins, who has also posted elite speeds over 21.5 mph in recent seasons, often trading the top spot with Hill on the NGS charts.
- DK Metcalf: Another wide receiver known for his incredible, late-game closing speed, though his 40-yard time (4.33) is slightly slower than Hill's.
Ultimately, while the 4.29-second Pro Day time is the official record, it is Hill's sustained, real-time speed of over 22 MPH on the football field that truly validates his nickname, "The Cheetah," and makes him one of the most exciting and dominant players in the NFL today.
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