Tyreek Hill and Noah Lyles are two of the fastest men in their respective sports. But weeks ago they edged close to what could be one of the most electrifying head-to-head races in history. Hill, the Miami Dolphins star wide receiver and NFL ‘Cheetah,’ had challenged the World’s Fastest Man Lyles after the Paris Olympics. What started as a playful back-and-forth on social media sparked intrigue and epic cross-sport rivalry.

The challenge? A 50-yard dash. It’s a shorter distance than Lyles is accustomed to. However, Hill’s background in track, where he posted a blistering 10.19 seconds in the 100-meter, hinted that he won’t be an easy opponent. Cheetah, confident in his speed, admitted he might not beat Lyles by a large margin but was convinced he’d come out on top. Meanwhile, Lyles has mostly brushed off the NFL star’s comments, even humorously pretending not to know Hill’s name in interviews. But with each jab, the stakes seem to rise.

Amid such fierce competitiveness between them, an unexpected twist has emerged. After a controversial police encounter left Hill handcuffed before a recent game, Lyles showed support for his rival as he unabashedly took a stand against the racial discrimination that Hill had to face. Overcoming the playful verbal bout, such a take from the 100m Olympic champion added a new perspective to their relationship.

However, make no mistake, thinking the tension is over. The rising query over who’s faster between the two speedsters remains intact in the minds of track enthusiasts and fans. And amid that, track legend Michael Johnson has now also thrown fuel to the fire by calling for an official race between the two. In a recent X video posted by Grand Slam Track, Johnson suggested a showdown between Lyles and Hill could take place at his Grand Slam Track event. 

In the short clip, Johnson was asked if there was a professional athlete from another sport whom Johnson would love to host at a future Grand Slam Track event. Without taking a second to reply, Michael Johnson immediately said the name, “Tyreek Hill.” He further justified, “I would love to have Tyreek actually run in a Grand Slam Track event. Cheetah! Cheetah.”

Meanwhile, Noah Lyles shared that he’s in talks with Michael Johnson about joining Grand Slam Track for its 2025 debut. Lyles told Sharpe and Ochocinco’s “Nightcap” podcast he’s waiting on broadcast details before making it official. So, the world might finally see their clash shift from words to action. This is another plot twist to their developing dynamic, going from verbal battles to setting egos aside when it truly counted as two proud Black men in America!

Noah Lyles backs Tyreek Hill amidst racial discrimination despite the speed feud

It all began with Tyreek Hill claiming to have the capacity to outrun the Olympic gold medalist in a race. The banter between them escalated when Lyles, appearing on a podcast, couldn’t remember Hill’s name, mockingly referring to him as “the cheetah guy from football.” Lyles then took it a step further, accusing Hill of “chasing clout” by challenging every fast athlete to a race but never backing it up. Lyles, further added that if Hill were truly serious, he’d arrange a real, sanctioned competition. 

But amid this verbal tussle, the sudden twist regarding Hill ending up handcuffed made Lyles support his NFL rival. He called out the aggressive treatment and harassment Hill had to face over a minor traffic violation. For Lyles, the issue of racial discrimination in America is deeply personal. Within seconds, the scenario with all the trash-talking abruptly changed.

Throwing light on the issues Lyles wrote, “Tyreek said something very important In his post-game interview. What if it wasn’t him. This is what they do to us when they feel they might get in trouble. What do you think they do to us when they know they won’t get in trouble.”

Noah Lyles had also previously spoken out about the struggles he’s faced as an athlete of color. He even described his pride in representing the U.S. as “bittersweet.” The 2x Olympian shared, “Being Black in America, there’s a lot to deal with. I’m not going to go into everything, but it’s not easy. It’s hard to love the country that sometimes doesn’t love you back. ”

He continued, “At the same time, you always want to put your best foot forward. So, it’s a little contradicting, it’s with a heavy heart, but it still makes you feel extremely proud because you are an American.” Lyles backing Tyreek Hill in such a sensitive situation reminded fans that their ratio and interaction can extend the boundaries of the field. However, with Michael Johnson’s recent demand, it appears that their speed rivalry is on its way to getting reignited soon.