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The Fastest NFL Players of All Time

Updated December 27, 2019 34.9k votes 4.0k voters 43.2k views106 items

List RulesBest players in NFL history who were known for their elite speed

This list is composed of the fastest NFL players of all time, ranked by overall speed and talent level. The NFL measures straight-line speed at the yearly NFL combine, with John Ross breaking the 40-yard dash record in 2017 with a blazing 4.22-second dash. However, that speed does not always translate to the field. Fans often tell tales of the greatest wide receiver of all time, Jerry Rice, who only ran a 4.71 40-yard dash yet displayed elite on-field speed with pads on.

This list is a collection of which players displayed the most jaw-dropping, game-changing speed in NFL history. It's no coincidence that many of these players also find themselves among the greatest NFL players of all time. Typically, the fastest NFL players are running backs, wide receivers, and cornerbacks, although certain anomalies like Michael Vick find themselves among the fastest NFL players due to top-notch speed.

Go ahead and rank the fastest NFL players of all time, and when you're done, head on over to rank the fastest NBA players of all time.

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1
1,085
444
Bob Hayes
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida
Age: Dec. at 60 (1942-2002)
Teams: Dallas Cowboys
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#124 of 1,323 The Best Football Players Ever#11 of 38 The Best NFL Wide Receivers of the '70s
2
1,694
731
Bo Jackson
Running back
Birthplace: Bessemer, Alabama, United States of America
Age: 57
Teams: Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
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#34 of 150 Athletes You Didn't Know Were Conservative#406 of 708 The Best Hitters in Baseball History
3
1,452
624
Deion Sanders
Cornerback, Punt returner
Birthplace: Fort Myers, Florida, United States of America
Age: 53
Teams: Florida State Seminoles baseball, Washington Redskins, San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons
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#130 of 149 The Greatest New York Yankees Of All Time#29 of 106 The Best Atlanta Braves Of All Time
4
2,001
885
Tyreek Hill
Wide Receiver, Return specialist
Birthplace: Georgia
Age: 26
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs
5
1,110
466
Darrell Green
Cornerback
Birthplace: Houston, Texas
Age: 60
Teams: Washington Redskins
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#60 of 80 The Best NFL Player Nicknames#1 of 115 The Greatest Washington Redskins of All Time
6
981
407
Chris Johnson
Running back, Return specialist
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida
Age: 35
Teams: Tennessee Titans
7
837
342
Devin Hester
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Riviera Beach, Florida, United States of America
Age: 33
Teams: Chicago Bears, Miami Hurricanes football

8
735
342
John Ross
9
694
325
DeSean Jackson
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Age: 33
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles
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#1511 of 1,816 The Best Athletes Of All Time#273 of 322 People Who Should Be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
10
912
446
Randy Moss
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Rand, West Virginia
Age: 43
Teams: Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings
11
759
386
Michael Vick
Quarterback
Birthplace: Virginia
Age: 40
Teams: Virginia Tech Hokies football, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles
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#41 of 252 The Best Quarterbacks Of All Time#11 of 53 The Best No. 1 Overall NFL Draft Picks Of All Time, Ranked
12
643
322
Barry Sanders
Running back
Birthplace: Wichita, Kansas, United States of America
Age: 52
Teams: Oklahoma State Cowboys football, Detroit Lions
13
299
129
Dante Hall
Return specialist, Punt returner
Birthplace: Lufkin, Texas
Age: 42
Teams: St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs
14
380
222
Marquise Goodwin
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Lubbock, Texas
Age: 29
Teams: San Francisco 49ers
15
336
201
Willie Gault
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Griffin, Georgia, United States of America
Age: 60
Teams: Chicago Bears, Tennessee Volunteers football, Los Angeles Raiders
16
368
226
Ted Ginn, Jr.
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio
Age: 35
Teams: New Orleans Saints
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#17 of 83 The Best Ohio State Buckeyes of All Time#25 of 58 The Best College Football Wide Receivers of All Time
17
284
175
Champ Bailey
Cornerback
Birthplace: Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Age: 42
Teams: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Georgia Bulldogs football team
18
288
182
Joey Galloway
Return specialist, Wide receiver
Birthplace: Bellaire, Ohio, United States of America
Age: 48
Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots
19
263
166
Jamaal Charles
Running back
Birthplace: Port Arthur, Texas
Age: 33
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Texas Longhorns football
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#38 of 206 The Best NFL Running Backs of All Time#7 of 61 The Best Texas Longhorns Football Players of All Time
20
307
217
Brandin Cooks
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Stockton, California
Age: 27
Teams: Los Angeles Rams
21
273
190
Walter Payton
Running back
Birthplace: Columbia, Mississippi, United States of America
Age: Died at 45 (1954-1999)
Teams: Chicago Bears
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#379 of 753 People We Wish Were Still Alive#321 of 583 The Greatest Entertainers of All Time
22
290
214
Julio Jones
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Foley, Alabama
Age: 31
Teams: Atlanta Falcons
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#6 of 91 The Best Alabama Crimson Tide Football Players of All Time#3 of 53 Who Is the Best Wide Receiver in the NFL Right Now?
23
153
99
Herschel Walker
Running back, Return specialist
Birthplace: Wrightsville, Georgia, USA
Age: 58
Teams: Georgia Bulldogs football team, New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys
24
197
140
Tavon Austin
25
116
73
Cliff Branch
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States of America
Age: 72