40-yard dash#Average time by position

The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering {{convert|40|yd|m|3}}. It is primarily run to evaluate the speed and acceleration of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football. This was traditionally only true for the "skill" positions such as running back, wide receiver, and defensive back, although now a fast 40-yard dash time is considered important for almost every position. The 40-yard dash is not an official race in track and field athletics, and is not an IAAF-recognized race.

The origin of timing football players for 40 yards comes from the average distance of a punt and the time it takes to reach that distance.{{cite book | title=America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation | first=Michael | last=MacCambridge | date=2005 | edition=1st | publisher=Anchor Books | location=New York | page=29 | isbn=978-0-375-72506-7 | quote=Intent on building a fast team, [Paul Brown in the mid-1940s] began timing players in the 40-yard dash, rather than the 100, reasoning that the 40 was a more meaningful measure of true football speed: about the distance a player would cover on a punt. }} Punts average around 40 yards in distance from the line of scrimmage, and the hangtime (time of flight) averages approximately 4.5 seconds; therefore, if a player can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, he will be able to leave the line of scrimmage when a punt is kicked, and reach the point where the ball comes down just as it arrives.

Timing method and track comparisons

In terms of judging a person's speed, the best method of timing is through lasers which start and stop the times when passed through. A laser start (from a stationary position) is more accurate for measuring pure speed as it does not register a runner's reaction time, however, this method of timing a 40-yard dash can affect the accuracy by as much as 0.5 seconds with the manual stopwatch method.

The National Football League (NFL) did not begin using partial electronic timing (i.e. started by hand, stopped electronically) at the NFL Scouting Combine until 1999.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0345545141|title=isbn:0345545141 - Google Search|website=books.google.com}}{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1543670-how-are-40-yard-dash-times-recorded|title=How Are 40-Yard Dash Times Recorded?|first=Gary|last=Davenport|website=bleacherreport.com}} For purposes of measurement at the Combine, the run is made along the sideline from the front of the end zone to the 40-yard line, and for electronically timed 40-yard dashes, the runner is allowed to start when they wish, and a timer hand-starts the clock.

In contrast, track and field races have the runner react to a starting gun, which takes approximately 0.24 second (based on FAT timing); further to this, IAAF rules state any runner with a reaction time of less than 0.1 second is subject to disqualification.

This aspect means that comparisons with track times are essentially impossible given that a reaction time is not factored in, and the use of hand-timing in the 40-yard dash can considerably alter a runner's time: the methods are not comparable to the rigorous electronic timing used in track and field.

For example, Jacoby Ford, who ran 4.28 seconds in the 2010 NFL Combine, had a collegiate best of 6.51 s in the 60-meter dash (outside the top-40 of the all-time lists).[http://www.iaaf.org/records/toplists/sprints/60-metres/indoor/men/senior 60 Metres - men - senior - indoor]. IAAF. Retrieved on May 29, 2013.

Though not a current event, the 40-yard dash was briefly contested at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships for women in 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, and 1932. It was never staged as a men's event. The fastest winning time, including reaction, was 5.2 (originally recorded as 5{{frac|1|5}}) seconds, first set by Rosa Grosse and later tied by Mary Carew twice.{{cite web |title=FOUR MARKS ARE BROKEN IN GIRLS A.A.U. COMPETITION |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bridgeport-telegram-four-marks-are-b/154226934/ |publisher=The Bridgeport Telegram |access-date=29 Aug 2024 |page=16 |date=28 Mar 1927}}

Records

In most settings, the 40-yard dash is conducted without fully automatic timing, where lasers are used at both the beginning and end of the race.{{cite news |title=How Are 40-Yard Dash Times Recorded? |date=February 25, 2013 |work=Bleacher Report |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1543670-how-are-40-yard-dash-times-recorded }} Instead, the 40-yard dash is most often hand-timed, leading to considerable measurement error. Many (in particular older) reports of times below 4.2 or 4.3 are considered suspect, such as Baylor's Gerald McNeil's 4.19-second 40-yard dash in the 1980s before being signed to the United States Football League (USFL),{{cite book | title=Super Agent: The One Book the NFL and NCAA Don't Want You to Read | first1=Jerry | last1=Argovitz | first2=J. David | last2=Miller | date=2013 | publisher=Sports Publishing | location=New York | chapter=Chapter 40: A Better Mousetrap | isbn= 978-1613210680 }} or Deion Sanders' 4.27-second 40-yard dash in 1989.{{cite news | author=Hessler, Warner | title=NFL General Managers Moan About Another Diluted Draft | url=https://www.dailypress.com/1989/04/23/nfl-general-managers-moan-about-another-diluted-draft/ | newspaper=Daily Press | date=April 23, 1989 | access-date=March 1, 2012 }} More recent examples include rugby union's Carlin Isles time of 4.22 at a Detroit Lions facility during a 2013 workout,{{cite news | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/lions-sign-rugby-player-practice-squad-article-1.1558914 | title=Detroit Lions sign rugby player Carlin Isles to practice squad | date=December 26, 2013 | location=New York | work=Daily News}} and Texas Tech's Jakeem Grant being hand-timed by a New Orleans Saints scout at 4.1 in 2016.{{cite web | last1=Haislop | first1=Tadd | title=Texas Tech's Jakeem Grant clocked at 4.10 in 40-yard dash | url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl-news/4698075-jakeem-grant-40-yard-dash-time-record-nfl-draft-texas-tech | website=SportingNews | date=March 11, 2016 | access-date=March 12, 2016 | archive-date=April 20, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420205305/http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl-news/4698075-jakeem-grant-40-yard-dash-time-record-nfl-draft-texas-tech | url-status=dead }}

Also unofficially, Bo Jackson, who was invited to the 1986 combine and declined, ran the 40 to show off for scouts at Auburn. Electronically, with a laser, he has said it measured 4.12, and by hand it was 4.16. "I got down there, and I took off and ran completely through. I just kept going right out the door and didn’t come back." he was quoted after.{{Cite web |title=Bo Knows Speed: The real story behind football's most legendary 40-yard dash |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/bo-knows-40-yard-dashes-20411732 |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Las Vegas Raiders |language=en-US}}

In 2017, Olympic sprinter Christian Coleman ran a time of 4.12 seconds on turf in response to claims that NFL players are as fast as Usain Bolt.{{cite web|title=Olympic sprinter shows up John Ross|date=May 2017 |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/05/olympic-sprinter-christian-coleman-nfl-john-ross-usain-bolt-40-yard-dash-412-seconds-tennessee-video|publisher=USA Today|access-date=July 26, 2017}} In 2024, University of Iowa sprinter Kalen Walker ran a 4.15 on turf during the halftime of a Hawkeyes football game.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-29 |title=This College Sprinter from Iowa Blew Away the NFL Combine 40-Yard Dash Record |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a62739965/kalen-walker-40-yard-dash/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Runner's World |language=en-US}} A year and a half after he retired from active competition, Usain Bolt ran a 4.22 in flat-soled shoes and a tracksuit at a promotional event for the Super Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia on February 2, 2019.{{cite web |url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2019/02/02/usain-bolt-having-fun-at-super-bowl-ties-nfl-combine-40-yard-dash-record/ |title=Usain Bolt having fun at Super Bowl, 'ties' NFL Combine 40-yard dash record |last=Clark |first=Nate |publisher=NBC |date=2 February 2019 |access-date=2 February 2019}}

=NFL Scouting Combine=

This is a list of the official 40-yard dash results of under 4.31 seconds recorded at the NFL Scouting combine since 1999, the first year electronic timing was implemented at the NFL Scouting Combine.{{cite news |url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/top-performers#year=2006-2007-2008-2009-2010-2011&workout=FORTY_YARD_DASH&position=QB-RB-WR-TE-S-DL-LB-CB-OL-SPEC |title=Top Performers 2006-2011 |date = July 16, 2011}}{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-02-22-40-yard-dash_N.htm |title=Officially, Van Dyke is combine's fastest player |date= March 1, 2011 | work=USA Today |first=Frank |last=Cooney}}

class="wikitable sortable" border="1" ! style="width:5em" \| Time !! class="unsortable" style="width:15em" \| Name !! style="width:10em" \| Height !! style="width:7em" \| Weight !! style="width:7em" \| Position !! style="width:5em" \| College !! style="width:5em" \| Year !! class="unsortable" style="width:20em" \| Draft !{{abbr\|R\|Reference(s)}}
4.21	Xavier Worthy	{{convert\|5\|ft\|11\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|165\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Wide receiver	Texas	2024	No. 28 overall by Kansas City Chiefs \|
4.22	John Ross	{{convert\|5\|ft\|11\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|190\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Wide receiver	Washington	2017	No. 9 overall by Cincinnati Bengals \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/nfl/john-ross-iii-runs-40-yard-dash-record-4-22-seconds-nfl-combine/\|title=John Ross III runs 40-yard dash in record 4.22 seconds at NFL Combine\|work=Sportsnet\|date=March 4, 2017\|access-date=March 4, 2017}}
4.23	Kalon Barnes	{{convert\|5\|ft\|11\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|183\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Baylor	2022	No. 242 overall by Carolina Panthers \|
rowspan=2\| 4.24	Rondel Menendez	{{convert\|5\|ft\|9\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|192\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Wide receiver	Eastern Kentucky	1999	No. 247 overall by Atlanta Falcons \|
Chris Johnson	{{convert\|5\|ft\|11\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|192\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Running back	East Carolina	2008	No. 24 overall by Tennessee Titans \|
rowspan=4\| 4.26	Jerome Mathis	{{convert\|5\|ft\|11\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|184\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Wide receiver	Hampton	2005	No. 114 overall by Houston Texans \|
Dri Archer	{{convert\|5\|ft\|8\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|173\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Running back	Kent State	2014	No. 97 overall by Pittsburgh Steelers \|
Tariq Woolen	{{convert\|6\|ft\|4\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|205\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	UTSA	2022	No. 153 overall by Seattle Seahawks \|
D. J. Turner	{{convert\|5\|ft\|11\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|178\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Michigan	2023	No. 60 overall by Cincinnati Bengals \|
rowspan=3\| 4.27	Henry Ruggs III	{{convert\|6\|ft\|0\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|190\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Wide receiver	Alabama	2020	No. 12 overall by Las Vegas Raiders \|
Stanford Routt	{{convert\|6\|ft\|2\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|193\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Houston	2005	No. 38 overall by Oakland Raiders \|
Marquise Goodwin	{{convert\|5\|ft\|10\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|181\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Wide receiver	Texas	2013	No. 78 overall by Buffalo Bills \|
rowspan=8\| 4.28	Champ Bailey	{{convert\|6\|ft\|0\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|192\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Georgia	1999	No. 7 overall by Washington Redskins \|
Jacoby Ford	{{convert\|5\|ft\|9\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|190\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Wide receiver	Clemson	2010	No. 108 overall by Oakland Raiders \|
Jalen Myrick	{{convert\|5\|ft\|10\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|200\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Minnesota	2017	No. 222 overall by Jacksonville Jaguars \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/jalen-myrick?id=2558140\|title=Jalen Myrick Combine Profile\|work=NFL.com\|access-date=March 6, 2017}}
J. J. Nelson	{{convert\|5\|ft\|10\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|156\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Wide receiver	UAB	2015	No. 159 overall by Arizona Cardinals \|{{cite web\|url=https://twitter.com/nfl/status/569215838948950017\|title=NFL on Twitter\|work=Twitter\|date=February 21, 2015\|access-date=February 21, 2015}}
DeMarcus Van Dyke	{{convert\|6\|ft\|1\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|187\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Miami	2011	No. 81 overall by Oakland Raiders \|
Tyquan Thornton	{{convert\|6\|ft\|2\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|181\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Wide receiver	Baylor	2022	No. 50 overall by New England Patriots
Nate Wiggins	{{convert\|6\|ft\|1\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|173\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Clemson	2024	No. 30 overall by Baltimore Ravens \|
Maxwell Hairston	{{convert\|6\|ft\|1\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|170\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Kentucky	2025 \|
rowspan="4" \| 4.29	Fabian Washington	{{convert\|5\|ft\|11\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|188\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Nebraska	2005	No. 23 overall by Oakland Raiders \|
Zedrick Woods \|{{convert\|5\|ft\|11\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}} \|{{convert\|205\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}} \|Safety \|Mississippi \|2019 \|Undrafted \|{{cite news \|url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/top-performers#year=2019&workout=FORTY_YARD_DASH \|title=NFL Events: Combine Top Performers 2019\|work=NFL.com \|access-date = May 12, 2019}}
Javelin Guidry	{{convert\|5\|ft\|9\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|191\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Utah	2020	Undrafted \|
Matthew Golden	{{convert\|5\|ft\|11\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|191\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Wide receiver	Texas	2025	No. 23 overall by Green Bay Packers
rowspan="8" \| 4.30	Darrent Williams	{{convert\|5\|ft\|9\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|176\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Oklahoma State	2005	No. 56 overall by Denver Broncos \|
Tye Hill	{{convert\|5\|ft\|10\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|185\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Clemson	2006	No. 15 overall by St. Louis Rams \|
Yamon Figurs	{{convert\|5\|ft\|11\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|174\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Wide receiver	Kansas State	2007	No. 74 overall by Baltimore Ravens \|
Darrius Heyward-Bey	{{convert\|6\|ft\|2\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|210\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Wide receiver	Maryland	2009	No. 7 overall by Oakland Raiders \|{{cite web\|title=Darrius Heyward-Bey - WR - Maryland - 2009 NFL Combine Results\|url=http://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Darrius&l=Heyward-Bey&i=8229\|publisher=NFL Combine Results}}
Jamel Dean	{{convert\|6\|ft\|1\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|206\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Auburn	2019	No. 94 overall by Tampa Bay Buccaneers \|{{cite news \|url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/top-performers#year=2019&workout=FORTY_YARD_DASH \|title=NFL Events: Combine Top Performers 2019\|work=NFL.com \|access-date = May 12, 2019}}
Jakorian Bennett	{{convert\|5\|ft\|11\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|188\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Maryland	2023	No. 104 overall by Las Vegas Raiders \|
Darien Porter	{{convert\|6\|ft\|3\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|195\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Cornerback	Iowa State	2025	No. 68 overall by Las Vegas Raiders \|
Dont'e Thornton Jr.	{{convert\|6\|ft\|5\|in\|m\|2\|abbr=on}}	{{convert\|205\|lb\|kg st\|1\|abbr=on}}	Wide receiver	Tennessee	2025	No. 108 overall by Las Vegas Raiders \|

Average time by position

According to a five-year NFL combine report, wide receivers and cornerbacks had the fastest average times at 4.48, followed by running backs at 4.49. The following average times were measured between 2000 and 2012 at the NFL combine for players who played at least 5 games.{{cite web | url=http://www.milehighreport.com/2013/2/12/3969128/some-clarification-is-in-order-average-speed-by-position | title=Some Clarification is in Order: Average Speed by Position | author=Topher Doll | publisher=MileHighReport.com | date=February 12, 2013 | access-date=November 11, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111190208/https://www.milehighreport.com/2013/2/12/3969128/some-clarification-is-in-order-average-speed-by-position | archive-date=November 11, 2018 | url-status=live}}

class="wikitable sortable"
Position ! Time
Wide receiver \| 4.48
Cornerback \| 4.48
Running back \| 4.49
Free safety \| 4.53
Strong safety \| 4.55
Outside linebacker \| 4.60
Tight end \| 4.70
Inside linebacker \| 4.76
Fullback \| 4.80
Defensive end \| 4.80
Quarterback \| 4.93
Defensive tackle \| 5.06
Center \| 5.30
Offensive tackle \| 5.32
Offensive guard \| 5.37

class="wikitable sortable"

Position

! Time

| 4.48

| 4.48

| 4.49

| 4.53