The Fastest NFL Players of All Time
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.
- 1Running back
- Age: 59
- Teams: Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- 2Wide Receiver
- Age: 28
- Teams: Miami Dolphins
- 3Cornerback
- Age: 55
- Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers
- 4Cornerback
- Age: 62
- Teams: Washington Redskins
- 5Wide receiver
- Age: Dec. at 59 (1942-2002)
- Teams: Dallas Cowboys
- 6Running back, Return specialist
- Age: 36
- Teams: Tennessee Titans
- 7Wide receiver
- Age: 39
- Teams: Chicago Bears, Miami Hurricanes football
- 8Wide receiver
- Age: 45
- Teams: Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings
- 9Wide receiver
- Age: 35
- Teams: Los Angeles Rams
- 10Wide Receiver
- Teams: New York Giants
- 11Quarterback
- Age: 42
- Teams: Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 12Running back
- Age: 54
- Teams: Oklahoma State Cowboys football, Detroit Lions
- 13Return specialist, Punt returner, Kickoff returner
- Age: 43
- Teams: St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs
- 14Running back, Return specialist
- Age: 60
- Teams: Georgia Bulldogs football team, New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys
- 15Wide receiver
- Age: 61
- Teams: Chicago Bears, Tennessee Volunteers football, Los Angeles Raiders
- 16Return specialist, Wide receiver
- Age: 50
- Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots
- 17Wide receiver
- Age: 31
- Teams: Chicago Bears
- 18Wide receiver
- Age: 37
- Teams: New Orleans Saints
- 19Cornerback
- Age: 44
- Teams: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Georgia Bulldogs football team
- 20Running back
- Age: 35
- Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Texas Longhorns football
- 21Running back
- Age: Dec. at 45 (1954-1999)
- Teams: Chicago Bears
- 23Wide receiver
- Age: 74
- 24Wide receiver
- Age: 33
- Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 25Wide receiver
- Age: 31
- Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars
