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Fastest 40 times ever at NFL Combine: Xavier Worthy, John Ross lead 40-yard dash record books
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- Fastest 40 times ever at NFL Combine: Xavier Worthy, John Ross lead 40-yard dash record books
Fastest 40 times ever at NFL Combine: Xavier Worthy, John Ross lead 40-yard dash record books originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
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NFL Combine 40-yard dash record
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Fastest 40-yard dash times ever at NFL Combine
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What is the 40-yard dash and why does it matter?
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Other notable fast 40-yard dash performances
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How the 40-yard dash impacts NFL Draft stock
At the NFL Combine, over the course of several days, prospects will run through a series of different drills and on-field workouts to show off what they can do at the next level.
One of the most anticipated events at the combine every year is the 40-yard dash, where prospects can show off their speed in front of NFL coaches and scouts.
Part of the event's popularity stems from the lightning-fast numbers that prospects have put up in the past. Let's run through some of the fastest 40-yard draft times in combine history, why the event is so important, and more.
MORE: What events are at the NFL Combine?
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NFL Combine 40-yard dash record
The record-holder for the fastest 40-yard dash in combine history is none other than Texas receiver Xavier Worthy , who ran it in 4.21 seconds in 2024. His run broke a record that stood for six years prior, set by Washington's John Ross , who clocked in at 4.22 seconds.
Worthy's run turned the heads of several scouts. The Kansas City Chiefs ultimately drafted Worthy in the first round of last year's draft at No. 28 overall.
Fastest 40-yard dash times ever at NFL Combine
Aside from Worthy and Ross, there have been some other lightning-quick times in recent years. Here's a look at those. As you can see, several of these times were recorded in recent years:
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Xavier Worthy, WR: 4.21 seconds (2024)
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John Ross III, WR: 4.22 seconds (2017)
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Kalon Barnes , CB: 4.23 seconds (2022)
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Rondel Menendez, WR: 4.24 seconds (1999)
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Chris Johnson, RB: 4.24 seconds (2008)
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Jerome Mathis, WR: 4.26 seconds (2005)
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Dri Archer , RB: 4.26 seconds (2014)
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Tariq Woolen , CB: 4.26 seconds (2022)
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D.J. Turner, CB: 4.26 seconds (2023)
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Henry Ruggs III , WR: 4.27 seconds (2020)
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Stanford Routt, CB: 4.27 seconds (2005)
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Marquise Goodwin , WR: 4.27 seconds (2013)
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Lorenzo Styles Jr., FS: 4.27 seconds (2026)
MORE: NFL Combine bench press records to know
Xavier Worthy record 40-yard dash at NFL Combine video
Here's a look back at Worthy's run from last year. His first run clocked in at 4.25 seconds, which was already fast, but he kicked it into another gear during his second attempt:
As mentioned previously, Worthy's run broke Ross' record in 2017. Unfortunately, Ross' NFL career didn't match up with how impressive his 40 time was. He was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 9 overall, but he started in just 20 games over four seasons, making 63 catches for 963 yards and 11 touchdowns.
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"It lined up with his game speed and what I felt about how he plays the game," one AFC scout told Yahoo Sports of Worthy's 40 time last year. "He's not gonna be John Ross. This guy is, like, a f—ing good player.
"He just so happens to be fast as s—."
It's only been one season, but Worthy appears to be on track for a more productive career than Ross. Last season for the Chiefs , he had 59 receptions for 638 yards and six touchdowns, and he added 19 catches for 287 yards and three TDs in three playoff games.
What is the 40-yard dash and why does it matter?
In the 40-yard dash, players run in a straight line for 40 yards as fast as possible. The start is controlled by the runner, making it a true measure of a prospect's baseline speed.
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While speed isn't the only thing that scouts and coaches look at when evaluating prospects, it's obviously an important metric for receivers and defensive backs. Scouts use the 40 to grade running backs, mobile quarterbacks, and linebackers, as well. It doesn't hold as much weight for bigger linemen, but fast times from big men are no doubt impressive and can give an indication of a player's explosiveness and burst off the line.
Other notable fast 40-yard dash performances
We've also seen guys with wildly impressive 40 times due to their size and position they played. Let's quickly run through some of those.
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RB Chris Johnson (5-11, 197 pounds), ECU, 2008: 4.24 seconds
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QB Anthony Richardson (6-4, 245 points), Florida, 2023: 4.34 seconds
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TE Vernon Davis (6-3, 254 pounds) Maryland, 2008: 4.34 seconds
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DL Jordan Davis (6-6, 341 pounds) Georgia, 2023: 4.78 seconds
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LB Shaquem Griffin (6-0, 227 points) UCF, 4.38 seconds
How the 40-yard dash impacts NFL Draft stock
As you can imagine, the 40-yard dash is one piece of how scouts evaluate these players. In addition to the rest of their on-field workouts, these players are evaluated by a variety of different factors, including their on-field tape, how they interact with coaches during meetings, and how their overall skill sets might fit within the organization.
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Long story short, 40 times certainly can help or hurt certain prospects come draft time, but they're not an overarching, make-or-break metric for most of these players given the multitude of different factors that scouts use to evaluate them. Via Yahoo Sports :
"The 40 was an imperfect way to measure game speed for a really long time, but it was all that we did have," NFL Next Gen Stats analyst Keegan Abdoo said in a recent phone interview with Yahoo Sports. "It's not an end-all-be-all. But it's a piece of information that we have a lot of historical data to compare to and there's something to be said for that."
GMs use that historical data to consider both on-field context and draft strategy.
"A slower-than-normal 40 can often put a thought of doubt into decision makers," Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead told Yahoo Sports. "The players who run faster at the 40 usually get drafted earlier. There can be many variables off that correlation, so it does help you navigate the draft."
The 40-yard dash will certainly be one of the most anticipated events of the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine once again.
