Randy Moss 40 time and overall skill, has him ranked as one of the top-three greatest wide receivers in NFL history. He had it all – blazing speed, accurate and elite route-running, sticky hands, and a personality that can’t be compared to anyone else. He was a defensive back’s worst nightmare.
Moss’ incredible ability earned him the nickname ‘The Freak,’ which is fitting if you’ve ever seen him play. He was a man among boys and it didn’t take long for him to mark his territory in the NFL. He recorded at least 1,200 receiving yards in each of his first six seasons in the NFL.
He would end up recording 1,000+ yards in ten of his 14 seasons, 10+ touchdowns in nine of his 14 seasons, 100+ receptions in two of his 14 seasons, and set an NFL record with 23 receiving touchdowns in 2007. He also had 17 touchdowns in 1998 (rookie season) and again in 2003.
RELATED: 25 Best Tight Ends of All-Time
What Was Randy Moss 40 Time?
Anyone who has ever watched Randy Moss in action understands that he’s faster than most players he lines up against. With that said, it’s no surprise that he holds one of the fastest 40 times in NFL Combine history. Of course, that begs the question, what is Randy Moss’ 40 time?
Randy Moss’ 40 time in the 1998 NFL Combine was hand-timed at 4.25 seconds. While we’ll never know how accurate that time is, especially since the NFL didn’t start laser-timing the 40-yard dash finish until 1999 – the year after Randy Moss showcased his blazing speed.
Stil, Randy Moss’ 40 time at his Marshall University Pro Day was clocked at 4.38 seconds – which is slower, but still fast. Whether it was 4.25 or 4.38, we’re going to detail 20 NFL players that posted similar numbers to Randy Moss’ 40 time – some of which might surprise you.
20. DeSean Jackson
40-Yard Dash: 4.35 seconds
Years Active: 2008-present (14 seasons)
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Career Stats: 174 games, 631 receptions, 11,105 receiving yards, 66 total touchdowns
DeSean Jackson ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the 2008 NFL Combine, which ranked ninth among prospects that year. He was drafted in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles and spent the next six seasons with the team – recording 32 touchdowns over that span.
Although Jackson has never finished a season with double-digit touchdowns, he had nine touchdowns on two occasions. He also had five seasons with more than 1,000 yards receiving, which is impressive considering he never recorded more than 82 receptions in one season.
19. Michael Vick
40-Yard Dash: 4.33 seconds
Years Active: 2001-2015 (13 seasons)
Teams: Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers
Career Stats: 143 games, 61-51-1 record, 22,464 passing yards, 6,109 rushing yards, 169 total touchdowns
Michael Vick ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the 2001 NFL Combine, which was the second fastest time among prospects that year. He was the No. 1 overall draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons and revolutionized how we view the quarterback position for the next six seasons.
After spending two years in prison for his involvement in dog fighting, he returned to the NFL and spent five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. He reinvented himself and put up even more impressive numbers than he did before. He’s definitely one of the fastest quarterbacks ever.
18. Darrius Heyward-Bey
40-Yard Dash: 4.30 seconds
Years Active: 2009-2018 (10 seasons)
Teams: Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts
Career Stats: 144 games, 202 receptions, 2,897 yards, 16 touchdowns
Darrius Heyward-Bey ran a 4.30-second 40-yard dash at the 2009 NFL Combine, which was tied for the fastest time among prospects that year. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the seventh overall pick – a selection that, unfortunately, never materialized on the football field.
He spent four seasons with Oakland and only recorded 140 catches, 2,071 yards, and 11 touchdowns in that span – not what you expect from a seventh overall draft pick. His decline continued with the Colts in 2013 and over the next four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
17. Darrent Williams
40-Yard Dash: 4.30 seconds
Years Active: 2005-2006 (2 seasons)
Teams: Denver Broncos
Career Stats: 27 games, 140 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 6 interceptions, 19 passes defensed, 2 defensive touchdowns
Darrent Williams ran a 4.30-second 40-yard dash at the 2005 NFL Combine, which was the fourth fastest time recorded among prospects that year. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round and made an immediate impact, starting nine games his rookie season.
Through his first two seasons, Williams recorded six interceptions, 19 passes defensed, and two defensive touchdowns. He was on his way to becoming a household name in the NFL, but his career was cut short after he was shot to death by bullets meant for someone else.
16. Tyreek Hill
40-Yard Dash: 4.29 seconds
Years Active: 2016-present (6 seasons)
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs
Career Stats: 89 games, 472 receptions, 6,588 receiving yards, 717 rushing yards, 67 total touchdowns
Tyreek Hill ran a 4.29-second 40-yard dash at his 2016 West Alabama Pro Day. While that’s an impressive time, it doesn’t even begin to explain the speed Hill has with pads on – which makes him one of, if not the fastest players in the NFL. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the fifth round.
He made an immediate impact, recording 61 catches, 593 yards, and six touchdowns his rookie season. Since then, he recorded at least 1,183 yards in four of the past five years – including two seasons (soon to be three) with more than 10 touchdowns (12 in 2018 and 15 in 2020.)
15. JJ Nelson
40-Yard Dash: 4.28 seconds
Years Active: 2015-2019 (5 seasons)
Teams: Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders
Career Stats: 58 games, 85 receptions, 1,475 yards, 11 touchdowns
JJ Nelson ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the 2015 NFL Combine, which was the fastest time that year. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round and spent his first four seasons with them. He had 11 catches, 292 yards, and 2 touchdowns his rookie season.
In 2016 and 2017, Nelson looked like he was turning a corner. He combined for 63 catches, 1,076 yards, and 8 touchdowns in those two seasons, but saw a massive drop in production the following season. He spent 2019 with the Oakland Raiders, but hasn’t played in the NFL since.
14. Jacoby Ford
40-Yard Dash: 4.28 seconds
Years Active: 2010-2013 (3 seasons)
Teams: Oakland Raiders
Career Stats: 38 games, 57 receptions, 848 yards, 3 touchdowns
Jacoby Ford ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the 2010 NFL Combine, which was the fastest time among prospects that year. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders, who are known for drafting speedy wideouts, in the fourth round. Unfortunately, that speed didn’t amount to much.
As a rookie, Ford recorded 25 catches for 470 yards and 2 touchdowns. That production dropped slightly the following season before missing the entire 2012 season due to injury. He returned in 2013 and saw another dip in production. He hasn’t played in the NFL since.
13. Champ Bailey
40-Yard Dash: 4.28 seconds
Years Active: 1999-2013 (15 seasons)
Teams: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos
Career Stats: 215 games, 931 tackles, 42 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, 52 interceptions, 203 passes defensed, 4 defensive touchdowns
Champ Bailey ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the 1999 NFL Combine, which was the second fastest among prospects that year. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins with the seventh overall draft pick and he went on to have a 15-year Hall-of-Fame career.
Bailey recorded 18 interceptions over his first five seasons in the NFL – all of which were with Washington. He then spent the next 10 years of his career in Denver, where he recorded another 34 interceptions. He had 4 career defensive touchdowns and 203 passes defensed.
12. Stanford Routt
40-Yard Dash: 4.27 seconds
Years Active: 2005-2012 (8 seasons)
Teams: Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans
Career Stats: 119 games, 265 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 12 interceptions, 55 passes defensed, 1 defensive touchdown
Stanford Routt ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at the 2005 NFL Combine, which was the fastest time among prospects that year. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders (surprise, surprise) in the second round. He only started four games in his first two NFL seasons.
He had a breakout year in 2007, starting 14 games and finishing with 3 interceptions. Despite only starting 5 games over the next two seasons, he was a regular starter in 2010 and 2011, recording 6 interceptions in that span. Unfortunately, he was out of the NFL by 2013.
11. Marquise Goodwin
40-Yard Dash: 4.27 seconds
Years Active: 2013-present (9 seasons)
Teams: Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears
Career Stats: 87 games, 158 receptions, 2,623 yards, 14 touchdowns
Marquise Goodwin ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at the 2013 NFL Combine, which was the fastest time among prospects that year – by an impressive 0.07 seconds. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the third round and spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the team.
After a decent four years in Buffalo, Goodwin had a career year with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017, finishing with 56 catches, 962 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Production dipped in his final two years with the 49ers and he’s currently playing for the Chicago Bears in a limited role.
10. Henry Ruggs III
40-Yard Dash: 4.27 seconds
Years Active: 2020-2021 (2 seasons)
Teams: Las Vegas Raiders
Career Stats: 20 games, 50 receptions, 921 yards, 4 touchdowns
Henry Ruggs III ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Combine, which was the fastest among prospects that year. He was drafted by the – you guessed it – Las Vegas Raiders with the 12th overall pick. They had high expectations for the wideout, but it quickly backfired.
Ruggs III recorded 26 receptions, 452 yards, and 2 touchdowns his rookie season. He took a huge leap in the 2021 season and already had 26 catches, 469 yards, and 2 touchdowns through seven games. Unfortunately, his season got cut short due to a DUI accident that killed one person.
9. Anthony Schwartz
40-Yard Dash: 4.27 seconds
Years Active: 2021-present (1 season)
Teams: Cleveland Browns
Career Stats: 12 games, 9 receptions, 122 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 17 rushing yards
Anthony Schwartz ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash in the 2021 Combine, which was the fastest among all prospects that year. The Cleveland Cavaliers ended up drafting him in the third round and are excited about his potential in this league – though he does have a long way to go.
He opened his rookie season with 3 catches for 69 yards and one rush for 17 yards in his first NFL game. He went catchless in the next four games, but put up 5 catches for 48 yards over the next four games. He caught his first ever NFL touchdown (for 5 yards) on Christmas Day.
8. Deion Sanders
40-Yard Dash: 4.27 seconds
Years Active: 1989-2005 (14 seasons)
Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins
Career Stats: 188 games, 512 tackles, 1.0 sack, 10 forced fumbles, 13 fumble recoveries, 53 interceptions, 10 defensive touchdowns, 9 return touchdowns, 3 receiving touchdowns
Deion Sanders ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at the 1989 NFL Combine, but it also depends on who you ask. Some records say he ran it in 4.29 seconds, while other records say he ran it 4.21 seconds. Either way, his speed was obvious and he showcased that speed in style.
Sanders was the fifth overall draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons and went on to become one of the greatest players in NFL history. He did it all – he was a lockdown corner, a terrific returner, an emergency receiver, and he even played in the MLB. There’s a reason they call him PrimeTime.
7. Ike Taylor
40-Yard Dash: 4.26 seconds
Years Active: 2003-2014 (12 seasons)
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers
Career Stats: 174 games, 636 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, 14 interceptions, 134 passes defensed, 1 defensive touchdown
Ike Taylor wasn’t invited to the 2003 NFL Combine, but ran a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at his University of Louisiana of Lafayette Pro Day, though some people had him clocked at 4.18 seconds. If he was invited to the combine that year, he would’ve been the fastest player there.
Taylor was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round and spent his entire 12-year career with the team. He recorded at least one interception each year between 2004 and 2012, and was a regular starter between 2005 and 2013. To this day, he’s extremely underrated.
6. Jerome Mathis
40-Yard Dash: 4.26 seconds
Years Active: 2005-2007 (3 seasons)
Teams: Houston Texans
Career Stats: 12 punt returns, 68 punt return yards, 72 kick returns, 2,054 kick return yards, 3 kick return touchdowns
Jerome Mathis ran a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the 2005 NFL Combine, though some people had him clocked in at 4.28. Either way, that’s very impressive and isn’t that far off from Randy Moss’ 40 time. Mathis was drafted by the Houston Texans in the fourth round of the draft.
Despite being one of the fastest prospects at the time, Mathis’ speed never translated on the football field and he only lasted three years in the league. He had an impressive rookie year as a kick returner, finishing the year with 54 returns, 1,542 return yards, and 2 return touchdowns.
5. Chris Johnson
40-Yard Dash: 4.24 seconds
Years Active: 2008-2017 (10 seasons)
Teams: Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets
Career Stats: 130 games, 9,651 rushing yards, 307 receptions, 2,255 receiving yards, 58 total touchdowns
Chris Johnson ran a 4.24-second 40-yard dash at the 2008 NFL Combine, which was the fastest of any prospect that year and also the fastest official time in NFL Combine history (at the time). That record stood until John Ross, who we discuss below, broke it with a 4.22 40 time.
Johnson was drafted 24th overall by the Tennessee Titans in 2008 and spent the first six years of his career with the team. He amassed 1,000 yards in each of those six seasons, including 2,006 yards during the 2009 season. He also scored 58 touchdowns in that span with the Titans.
4. Donte Stallworth
40-Yard Dash: 4.22 seconds
Years Active: 2002-2012 (10 seasons)
Teams: New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles
Career Stats: 115 games, 321 receptions, 4,837 yards, 35 touchdowns
Donte Stallworth ran an unofficial 4.22-second 40-yard dash at the 2002 NFL Combine. I’m not sure why it’s considered an unofficial time or why it’s not the current Combine record. In fact, most people don’t mention his time of 4.22 seconds, but they do John Ross’ 4.22-second run.
Nonetheless, Stallworth was drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the 12th overall pick in 2002. He had a productive four years with the Saints, but his production started to decline once he left the team in 2006. He played for five teams over the next six seasons before retiring.
3. John Ross III
40-Yard Dash: 4.22 seconds
Years Active: 2017-present (5 seasons)
Teams: Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants
Career Stats: 37 games, 62 receptions, 957 yards, 11 touchdowns
John Ross III ran a 4.22-second 40-yard dash at the 2017 NFL Combine, tying Stallworth’s time and breaking Chris Johnsons’ record that stood for nine years. Ross was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the ninth overall pick, largely due to his speed more than anything else.
Ross III only played in three games his rookie season due to injury. He played in 21 games over the next two seasons, combining for 49 catches, 716 yards, and 10 touchdowns. In the two seasons since then, he has only recorded 13 catches for 241 yards and one touchdown.
2. Joey Galloway
40-Yard Dash: 4.18 seconds
Years Active: 1995-2010 (16 seasons)
Teams: Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins
Career Stats: 198 games, 701 receptions, 10,950 yards, 77 touchdowns
Joey Galloway ran an unofficial (not recognized by the NFL) 4.18-second 40-yard dash in 1995. That would make him faster than Randy Moss, if we’re basing that off of their 40 times. Galloway was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the eight overall pick in the 1995 draft.
Galloway averaged over 1,000 yards per season through his first four years in the league and scored 36 touchdowns in that span. After two down years due to injury, production picked back up in 2001 and he amassed 1,000 yards three times between 2005-2007. He retired in 2011.
1. Darrell Green
40-Yard Dash: 4.09 seconds
Years Active: 1983-2002 (20 seasons)
Teams: Washington Redskins
Career Stats: 295 games, 1,202 tackles, 1.0 sack, 5 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, 54 interceptions, 8 defensive touchdowns
Since we’re mentioning Joey Galloway’s unofficial time of 4.18, we may as well mention the impressive – and alleged – 4.09-second 40-yard dash set by Darrell Green at the Redskins’ 1986 training camp. Although not recognized by the NFL, he was much faster than Moss.
Green was drafted by the Reskins with the 28th overall pick in 1983, three years before running that 40. He played in three different decades across his 20-year career. He recorded at least one interception in each of his first 19 seasons, failing to do so in his farewell tour in 2002.
Other Players That Were Built With Speed
Throughout the years, plenty of players have showcased their speed at their Pro Day, the NFL Combine, Training Camp, or on their own time. Of course, the only 40-yard dash times that are recognized by the NFL are those that occurred at the NFL Combine, and for good reason.
In addition to the 20 people above that either came close to or beat Randy Moss’ 40 time, there are several other players that impressed with their speed at the NFL Combine. For example, Rondel Menendez was clocked at 4.24 seconds and Dri Archer ran a 4.26-second 40 time.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 20 Overrated Athletes of 2021
Other players that finished between 4.27 and 4.30 include Jalen Myrick, DeMarcus Van Dyke, Fabian Washington, Zedrick Woods, Javelin Guidry, Tye Hill, Yamon Figurs, and Jamal Dean. Only time will tell if we see anyone top Randy Moss’ 40 time like some of those above.
What to Read Next...
At The Buzzer, or ATB is the place for those who love sports, life, family, community, and so much more. We are far from the run-of-the-mill 24/7 sports news websites. We not only bring you what’s happening in the world of sports in terms of trades and breaking news, but we also bring you the news that goes on behind the scenes, like big life moments, and so much more. So take a minute and read one of our articles, we promise you won't regret it.