Noah Lyles is in discussions to race NFL star Tyreek Hill, potentially resolving their ongoing debate about who is faster.
Lyles recently became the fastest man on the planet after winning the men’s 100m final. Shortly after his victory at the Paris Games, Hill, known as ‘Cheetah’ for his speed on the field, asserted he could outrun the Olympic champion, leading to a heated exchange between the two.
In a conversation with Stan Verrett on SportsCenter, Lyles addressed their rivalry and hinted that a race could be on the horizon. “Look man, you got to be serious,” Lyles stated. “Everyone want to jump up to the top…everybody wants to race the fastest man. I didn’t grab this title because it’s easy or I went the easy route.”
Lyles confirmed he is negotiating with Hill for a race but emphasized that Hill must compete against other athletes first. He also mentioned that a 60m indoor race might be more feasible since he knew Hill had attempted that distance previously. “We’re in talks, we’re in talks,” Lyles added.
The rivalry intensified after Hill claimed on Up & Adams, “I would beat Noah Lyles. I wouldn’t beat him by a lot. But I would beat Noah Lyles.” He further joked, “When I beat him, I’m going to put on a COVID mask and let him know I mean business,” referencing Lyles’ mask prior to the 200m Olympic final.
Hill criticized Lyles’ comments about NBA champions not being ‘world champions,’ saying, “Noah Lyles can’t stay nothin’ after what just happened to him. Then he wants to come out and pretend like he’s sick? I feel like that’s horseradish.”
In response to Hill’s challenge, Lyles appeared on Shannon Sharpe’s Nightcap Show, humorously claiming he forgot Hill’s name. “What’s the cheetah guy from football? What’s his name?” he asked.
Hill then proposed a 50m race, stating, “Sign the contract and lock in that 50 yard race…” However, Lyles dismissed the challenge, insisting that if Hill wants to compete against an Olympic champion, he must do so in a proper event.
Later, Lyles suggested he would race Hill at 100m but under certain conditions. “If somebody wants to sponsor the event and we’re racing for millions of dollars and it’s on a track and we’re running 100 meters, then sure, we can race,” he said.
While Hill is undeniably fast, having won state titles in high school and clocked a top speed of 22.01 mph last season, Lyles’ statistics indicate he would likely outperform Hill in a 100m or 200m race, though the outcome might differ over shorter distances.
