Michael Johnson Backs Noah Lyles as Track and Field Community Make Thoughts Known Over Tyreek Hill Race

4 min read

The buzz around a potential showdown between Olympic sprint king Noah Lyles and NFL speedster Tyreek Hill has been simmering for months, and it’s finally boiling over into a full-on track versus turf debate. Fresh off his 100-meter gold medal triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a blistering 9.79-second run, Lyles has been trading barbs with Hill, the Miami Dolphins’ wide receiver known for his 4.29-second 40-yard dash. Enter Michael Johnson, the four-time Olympic gold medalist and sprinting legend, who recently weighed in on “The Rich Eisen Show” to pour some cold water on the hype, firmly planting his flag in Lyles’ corner. For fans who live for these cross-sport clashes, this will be a must-watch spectacle—if it ever happens.

Johnson didn’t mince words when breaking down the matchup, emphasizing the chasm between sprinting as a honed craft and the raw, explosive speed Hill showcases on the gridiron. “Sprinting is different than just being fast,” Johnson said, highlighting the technical mastery and years of specialized training that define world-class track athletes like Lyles. He argued that while Hill’s athleticism is undeniable, football speed doesn’t translate seamlessly to the track. Johnson’s take? Lyles would “destroy” Hill in a 100-meter dash, estimating a jaw-dropping 10-meter gap at the finish line. For fans who’ve seen Hill torch secondaries, that’s a bold claim begging to be tested—but can he bridge that gap?

Naturally, Johnson’s stance has sparked a ripple effect across the track and field community, with many nodding in agreement while others wonder if Hill’s bravado could defy the odds. The sprint icon doubled down, asserting that Hill wouldn’t even crack the top 20 or 30 100-meter runners globally, a stinging verdict for a guy who once ran a 20.14-second 200-meter as a teenager. “It’s just entertainment, not real sport,” Johnson quipped, framing the proposed race as more of a gimmick than a legit competition. Yet, with Lyles and Hill confirming to People Magazine that a 60-meter sprint is in the works for spring or summer 2025, the debate rages on. Will this clash finally settle the score, or is Johnson right that it’s all just noise for the highlight reels? Well, fans too have their say!!

Track Fans Dismiss Tyreek Hill’s Chances Against Noah Lyles in Sprinting Clash

Hill’s bold claim of racing Olympic sprint champ Noah Lyles has track fans buzzing—and mostly scoffing—at the idea. The Dolphins’ wide receiver, known for his blazing speed on the gridiron, sparked debate, but fans aren’t buying his chances against a world-class sprinter. One fan summed it up: “Facts! Tyreek was just looking for some good PR. Noah Lyles is a beast.” The consensus? Hill’s hype might be more about headlines than actual hope.

Some fans, however, do see a sliver of intrigue in a shorter race. But over longer distances? As soon as they enter Lyles’ familiar territory? No chance “A 30-40 yard dash, Hill may keep it close… after 40 yards, it’s over.” This is a perspective with a lot of conviction in it. After all, the Olympic champion is the one who has the training and experience of running those distances. Almost everyone echoed the same belief: a 100m sprint would be nothing but a massacre. 

 “In a 100-meter sprint, Noah would be damn near 20 yards ahead of Tyreek,” one fan predicted. Yet another set the record straight, fast as the wide receiver may be, he is no Olympic gold medalist. “Tyreek is fast. Noah Lyles is fast for a living. End of story.” But not everyone is blindly getting on the Noah Lyles hype train.

Tyreek in “high school” ran a 10.19… saying it wouldn’t be a competition is insane“. But a rebuttal for this argument was readily available from a user who didn’t take long to shoot down the original commenter’s fantasy, “You just said in high school, I guarantee he can’t run that time again.”. Maybe the user feels Hill has slowed down with age. So what could actually be the result of the race between Noah Lyles and Tyreek Hill?

Most seem to believe that Noah Lyles, the Olympic gold medalist who outran Kishane Thompson to break the USA’s 20-year-long drought at the 100m event in the Olympics, is the current king of the track. Tyreek Hill, however fast he may be, may be unable to outrun Lyles on track. But there are others who beg to differ. Guess we will just have to wait to find out! But one thing is for sure regardless of who wins, it will be quite a show!

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