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In honor of the NFL Combine which kicks off it’s workouts this Saturday, let’s take look at some who have ripped off some of the fastest 40 times in history.
Much has been said about Bo Jackson’s speed. His fastest 40 was 4.12.
Current Patriots Wide Receiver Randy Moss clocked a 4.25 in a 40 yard dash once.
Hershell Walker ran a 4.25 for the Dallas Cowboys back in the day.
Still talked about to this day is Deion Sanders’ 4.21 forty yard dash at the NFL Combine. Sanders is said to have continued running through the 40 yard finish line and to the tunnel waving to coaches in attendance and telling them he will see them on draft day. Typical Deion.
Other speedy 40 yard gobblers
Ike Taylor: 4.18
Laveranues Coles: 4.16
Ahman Green: 4.19
Kevin Curtis: 4.21
Donte Stallworth: 4.22
Willie Parker: 4.23
Champ Bailey: 4.28
Darrell Green: 4.09
Joey Galloway: 4.18
Willis McGahee: 4.28 (pre knee injury)
Alexander Wright: 4.09
Ever wonder what Bullet Bob Hayes would have run in the 40 yard dash? Sprinter Maurice Green had a 40 yard time split during a 100 meter race timed at 4.24 seconds. Given the variables of reacting to a starters gun and the electronic timing, Green’s 40 yard dash would have converted to anywhere from 4.00 to 4.14 hand timed.
I personally observed track star Henry Neal run a 4.20 40 yard dash for the Miami Dolphins and I must say, that was pretty impressive. It was the fastest 40 yard dash I ever personally witnessed. However, I did have the displeasure of covering Joey Galloway as a rookie in Seattle Seahawks camp as a defensive back and I will say that he was every bit of 4.1 to 4.2 in the 40 yard dash back then.
Here’s to all of the potential rookies trying to grab a hold of the millions of dollars at stake on that 40 yard strip of turf in the Indianapolis RCA Dome. May a 4.1 or 4.2 forty be in the cards for you but I doubt it.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Emil // Feb 23, 2008 at 9:38 am
The NFL combine another exercise in futility. If they want to see if a kid can play football, they should pop in the tape from him from his previous 2-4 seasons in college. Last time I looked not very many people were running 40 yds straight ahead in a football game. Emmitt Smith, the most prolific back in NFL history, may have been hard pressed to beat me in a 40 yd dash. Ok, I’m kidding about that but you get the points.
Too many scouts in all sports are turning scouting into a beauty contest. As Jerry Jones once said when asked about Troy Aikman before he had ever played a game for the Cowboys, “well, he does look good in the shower”. LOL After Jerry removed his foot from his mouth he basically went on to explain that you can’t tell if a guy is a player in a t-shirt and shorts which is what the NFL combine attempts to do. Mike Mamula thanks the NFL every day for this combine I’m sure. It made him a multi-millionaire because he could bench-press 225 lbs a lot and run a great 40 for a DE.
2 CWilson // Feb 24, 2008 at 11:34 am
You site some good examples but in some cases, the measurements have been able to decipher who would be a good pro and who would not. Think of all the Heisman Trophy quarterbacks who didn’t measure up, fell low in the draft and surely didn’t perform in the NFL.
3 hash // Mar 1, 2008 at 9:09 am
To me it’s just a tiny part of the package..sure speed kills but if you cannot get open out on the field or cover someone or understand the playbook or the assignment, speed can cover some sins but not everything. The same goes with strength. These types of tryouts have inherent flaws but I suppose if you’re trying to gauge talent, you need to have some sort of uniform criterion.
4 andreas // May 5, 2008 at 7:21 am
those times are BS. Jackson has the fastest official time in the 40 in combine history. he ran a 4.12 in New Orleans 1986.
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