NFL combine: Top 10 fastest 40-yard dashes all-time, who to watch in 2026

As sports fans, we just finished three weeks of Olympic action.

Now it is time for the underwear version.

The NFL Scouting Combine is upon us, often referred to affectionately as the “Underwear Olympics.” Over the next week in Indianapolis, prospective NFL Draft hopefuls will be put through the paces at Lucas Oil Stadium, hoping to boost their chances of an early pick later this spring in Pittsburgh.

One of the marquee events is, of course, the 40-yard dash. And while that particular test does not always translate to NFL success, it certainly moves the needle on social media. After all, speed is a huge advantage in the NFL, and the ability to turn game-breaking speed into explosive plays is a huge benefit for an NFL offense.

With that in mind, here are the fastest 40-yard dashes ever recorded at the NFL Scouting Combine, as well as some players to watch this year.

Ten fastest 40-yard dashes at the Scouting Combine

T10: Henry Ruggs III (2020), Stanford Routt (2005), Marquise Goodwin (2013) – 4.27

We start with a trio of players who posted a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at their NFL Scouting Combine. Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, Houston cornerback Stanford Routt, and Texas wide receiver Marquise Goodwin all hit that mark when they took to the turf in Indianapolis.

Ruggs came off the board at No. 12 to the Las Vegas Raiders, while Routt slid to No. 38, also with the Raiders. That is a franchise that loves speed. As for Goodwin, he fell to No. 78 with the Buffalo Bills in his draft.

T6: Jerome Mathis (2005), Dri Archer (2014), Riq Woolen (2022), D.J. Turner (2023) – 4.26

Four players hit the 4.26 mark at the NFL Scouting Combine.

First was Hampton wide receiver Jerome Mathis, who ran 4.26 at the 2005 NFL Scouting Combine. Dri Archer was next, as the Kent State running back hit that mark at the 2014 edition. Most recently cornerback Riq Woolen, followed by Michigan cornerback D.J. Turner, hit those marks.

Mathis was drafted at No. 114 by the Houston Texans, while Archer came off the board at No. 97 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Woolen fell to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 153 — where he is now a Super Bowl champion — while Turner was drafted at No. 60 by the Cincinnati Bengals.

T4: Rondel Menendez (1999), Chris Johnson (2008) – 4.24

As the times tick down, we head back to a previous century. Eastern Kentucky wide receiver Rondel Menendez hit the 4.24-second mark at the 1999 Scouting Combine, the first year that electronic timing was used at the event.

That mark stood the test of time until 2008, when Chris Johnson came along. Johnson posted a 4.24-second 40-yard dash of his own that year, as the East Carolina running back turned heads that year in Indianapolis. He came off the board in the first round, at No. 24 to the Tennessee Titans.

Menendez came off the board at No. 247 to the Atlanta Falcons. While he was a standout in his first NFL preseason, he suffered a knee injury in Atlanta’s final preseason game and was released. He retired after bouncing around a few different practice squads to take care of his mother, after she needed brain surgery. Menendez tried a comeback in NFL Europe a year later, but soon retired again.

3: Kalon Barnes (2022) – 4.23

Baylor cornerback Kalon Barnes broke the 4.24-second barrier at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, hitting 4.23 on the surface that year.

Barnes was drafted at No. 242 by the Carolina Panthers, and most recently, he was released by the CFL’s Edmonton Elks during training camp last May. His is still the fastest 40-yard dash at an NFL Scouting Combine from a defensive back.

2: John Ross (2017) – 4.22

John Ross hit the 4.22-second mark at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine, and turned that into becoming a top-ten pick. Ross came off the board at No. 9 to the Cincinnati Bengals.

He signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL earlier this month.

1: Xavier Worthy (2024) – 4.21

Your current record holder? That would be Xavier Worthy, who posted a blazing-fast 4.21 40-yard dash at the 2024 Scouting Combine. The former Texas WR parlayed that into a first-round selection by the Kansas City Chiefs that year, as he came off the board at No. 28.

Worthy caught 42 passes for 532 yards and a touchdown last season. He caught six touchdown passes as a rookie during the 2024 campaign.

Who to watch at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine

Here are four players to watch when they take to Lucas Oil Stadium for the 40-yard dash.

Chris Hilton, WR, LSU

LSU wide receiver Chris Hilton might not have put up huge numbers for the Tigers, and battled lower-body injuries during his time at Baton Rouge, but he could light up Lucas Oil Stadium later this week. According to LSU he holds the program record as he hit 23.7 miles per hour on a play for the Tigers, and according to LSU he ran a “high 4.2 in the 40.”

Barion Brown, WR, LSU

Hilton is not the only Tiger to watch this week. Fellow LSU WR Barion Brown has already turned heads with his speed, as he was clocked in at 20.35 miles per hour on a play during the Senior Bowl. During his SEC career, which spanned time at both Kentucky and LSU, he scored six different kickoff return touchdowns.

You see his speed on plays like this 99-yard return against Houston in the Texas Bowl:

Domani Jackson, CB, Alabama

Former high school track athletes are always worth keeping an eye on, and that leads us to Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson. During his prep days in California he posted a 10.25-second 100-meter dash, which tied a state record and put him at No. 2 nationally during the 2021 track season.

Will that translate to a blazing-fast time this weekend in Indianapolis?

Brennen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State

If there is a prospect that could challenge Worthy’s record, it is Mississippi State wide receiver Brennen Thompson. Like Jackson, Thompson was a sprinter during his prep days, and posted a 10.18-second 100-meter dash during high school and took a state title in the 200-meters with a time of 21.27. According to the Bulldogs, he ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash already.

As a senior in high school.

He also hit 23.7 miles per hour this past summer, according to Mississippi State.

“I’ve never seen a person with my own eyes that fast on the football field,” Mississippi State WR coach Chad Bumphis said before this past season. “Like, Mario Craver was fast, but this guy is like Olympic fast. He’s a different speed.” 

After all, these are the underwear Olympics.