Noah Lyles, the reigning fastest man in the world, is calling out Tyreek Hill, the NFL’s fastest player, for what he perceives as clout-chasing rather than a genuine desire to compete. Hill, known as the “Cheetah” for his blistering speed on the football field, has openly claimed that he could beat Lyles in a race.
But Lyles isn’t convinced that Hill is serious about the challenge, and he didn’t hold back in expressing his doubts.
Lyles, fresh off his Olympic success where he won gold in the 100-meter sprint and bronze in the 200, has little patience for what he sees as empty talk. Despite a respiratory illness that affected his performance in Paris, Lyles remains at the top of the sprinting world. So when Hill made his bold claim during a live episode of ‘Nightcap’ with Shannon Sharpe and Ochocinco, Lyles responded by questioning whether Hill really wants the smoke or is just seeking attention.
Hill, who was an All-American track star in high school and at the junior college level, has long been known for his speed. Earlier this year, he competed in an official 60-meter race at a track meet in March, where he won his event. However, Lyles was quick to dismiss the achievement, pointing out that Hill ran in the ‘Masters’ division against less-than-stellar competition.
According to Lyles, a time of 6.70 seconds in the 60-meter dash doesn’t impress in the world of professional track and field.
Lyles took it a step further, contrasting Hill’s performance with that of another NFL star, D.K. Metcalf, who competed in the 100 meters at the USATF Golden Games in 2021 against top-level sprinters. Lyles praised Metcalf for stepping up to real competition and made it clear that if Hill is serious about racing the world’s fastest man, he needs to do it through the proper channels.
The newly-initiated beef between Lyles and Hill has escalated rapidly, with Lyles doubling down on his stance. He even admitted that while he knows Hill by his nickname ‘Cheetah,’ he often forgets Hill’s actual name because it’s not relevant to his day-to-day life as a professional sprinter. The message was clear: if Hill wants to be taken seriously, he needs to stop talking and start racing.
Now, the ball is in Tyreek Hill’s court. Will he step up and arrange a legitimate race against Noah Lyles, or will this challenge go unanswered?
For now, Lyles seems content to wait for Hill to prove that he’s more than just talk. Until then, it’s clear that Lyles considers Hill’s claims unworthy of his time and energy. The world will be watching to see if this race—one that could settle the question of who truly is the fastest—ever materializes.
