Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill won’t be a part of the new 40 Yards of Gold contest to determine the NFL’s fastest man.
It was announced Friday night that there will be a 40 Yards of Gold competition held on June 29th, a bracket-style event pitting 24 of the NFL’s speediest against each other in 40-yard dash for the sake of leagues fastest player. The contest will feature 12 offensive players and 12 defensive players with two mystery opponents.
Despite the presence of the league’s supposed fastest athletes, Tyreek Hill is not among the 24 competitors. The Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver has been clocked atop or near the top of the NFL’s leaderboard in terms of fastest clocked times during a game for the last three years. On the field, he has earned his nickname the Cheetah, and Hill was also a very successful track athlete in high school. There he ran the 100m in a scorching 9.98 seconds and a 200m at 20.14 seconds, which at the time made Hill the eighth fastest man in the world.
The exact reason that Hill is not participating is unknown, although it can be speculated that Hill is laying low due to the ongoing investigation into allegations of abuse and neglect in his family. If that is the case, it is sad that Chiefs fans will not have representation in the upcoming competition. Below are the names of the players that will be participating, to include two mystery competitors.
First for the offense: Tedd Ginn, Alvin Kamara, Jeff Badet, Corey Coleman, Robby Anderson, Richie James, Damiere Byrd, Mark Ingram, Kevin Snead, Christian Blake, Jacoby Ford, and a mystery participant.
For the defense, the list reads: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Trae Waynes, John Franklin III, Kevin Byard, Quinton Dunbar, Rashard Robinson, Terrell Sinkfield, Jerome Baker, Jalen Myrick, Budda Baker, Donte Jackson, Charles James II, and another mystery entrant.
Matchups can be voted on by the fans until Sunday the 26th of May, and after that, the bracket will be officially finalized and announced.