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4.1k voters

The Fastest NFL Players of All Time

Updated December 27, 2019 33.7k votes 4.1k voters 45.1k 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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1,082
449
Bob Hayes
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida
Age: Dec. at 60 (1942-2002)
Teams: Dallas Cowboys
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#38 of 214 The Best Wide Receivers of All Time#124 of 1,323 The Best Football Players Ever
2
1,075
447
Darrell Green
Cornerback
Birthplace: Houston, Texas
Age: 60
Teams: Washington Redskins
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#43 of 432 The Greatest Defenders in NFL History#17 of 69 The Best NFL Players From Texas
3
1,619
705
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#413 of 708 The Best Hitters in Baseball History
4
1,396
600
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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#132 of 149 The Greatest New York Yankees Of All Time#28 of 106 The Best Atlanta Braves Of All Time
5
947
388
Chris Johnson
Running back, Return specialist
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida
Age: 30
Teams: Tennessee Titans
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#33 of 225 The Best Arizona Cardinals of All Time#14 of 55 The Best NFL Players From Florida
6
1,925
851
Tyreek Hill
Wide Receiver, Return specialist
Birthplace: Georgia
Age: 26
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs
7
810
325
Devin Hester
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Riviera Beach, Florida, United States of America
Age: 33
Teams: Chicago Bears, Miami Hurricanes football
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#12 of 64 The Best Miami Football Players of All Time#10 of 144 The Greatest Chicago Bears of All Time
8
872
422
Randy Moss
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Rand, West Virginia
Age: 43
Teams: Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings
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#1 of 58 The Best College Football Wide Receivers of All Time#66 of 85 Great Athletes Who Waited Too Long To Retire
9
705
332
John Ross
10
661
316
DeSean Jackson
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Age: 29
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles
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#276 of 322 People Who Should Be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame#69 of 115 The Greatest Washington Redskins of All Time
11
727
367
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
616
308
Barry Sanders
Running back
Birthplace: Wichita, Kansas, United States of America
Age: 52
Teams: Oklahoma State Cowboys football, Detroit Lions
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#1 of 119 The Best Detroit Lions of All Time#2 of 26 NFL Players Whose Careers Ended Too Soon
13
296
125
Dante Hall
Return specialist, Punt returner
Birthplace: Lufkin, Texas
Age: 42
Teams: St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs

14
372
217
Marquise Goodwin
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Lubbock, Texas
Age: 29
Teams: San Francisco 49ers
15
352
218
Ted Ginn, Jr.
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio
Age: 35
Teams: New Orleans Saints
16
322
196
Willie Gault
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Griffin, Georgia, United States of America
Age: 60
Teams: Chicago Bears, Tennessee Volunteers football, Los Angeles Raiders
17
277
167
Champ Bailey
Cornerback
Birthplace: Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Age: 42
Teams: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Georgia Bulldogs football team
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#15 of 28 The Best NFL Players With The Most Pro Bowl Appearances#8 of 106 The Best Denver Broncos of All Time
18
281
174
Joey Galloway
Return specialist, Wide receiver
Birthplace: Bellaire, Ohio, United States of America
Age: 44
Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots
More
#21 of 83 The Best Ohio State Buckeyes of All Time#27 of 38 The Best NFL Wide Receivers of the '90s
19
254
160
Jamaal Charles
Running back
Birthplace: Port Arthur, Texas
Age: 33
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Texas Longhorns football
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#9 of 61 The Best Texas Longhorns Football Players of All Time#13 of 128 The Best Kansas City Chiefs Of All Time
20
267
181
Walter Payton
Running back
Birthplace: Columbia, Mississippi, United States of America
Age: Died at 45 (1954-1999)
Teams: Chicago Bears
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#375 of 753 People We Wish Were Still Alive#328 of 583 The Greatest Entertainers of All Time
21
289
211
Brandin Cooks
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Stockton, California
Age: 27
Teams: Los Angeles Rams
22
279
209
Julio Jones
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Foley, Alabama
Age: 26
Teams: Atlanta Falcons
23
153
99
Herschel Walker
Running back, Return specialist
Birthplace: Wrightsville, Georgia, United States of America
Age: 58
Teams: Georgia Bulldogs football team, New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys
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#3 of 83 The Best Heisman Trophy Winners of All Time#1 of 44 The Best University of Georgia Football Players of All Time

24
159
110
Eric Dickerson
Running back
Birthplace: Sealy, Texas, United States of America
Age: 55
Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, SMU Mustangs football, Atlanta Falcons
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#11 of 36 The Best NFL Running Backs of the 90s#45 of 143 Athletes Whose Careers Ended Too Soon
25
187
137
Tavon Austin