Noah Lyles‘ “World champion of what? The United States?” quip might just go down as one of the most iconic mic-drops in sports history. With a single line, he managed to stir the NBA pot, ruffling feathers from Devin Booker and Kevin Durant to Drake, and even reigning champ Aaron Gordon wasn’t having any of it. The debate? Whether a world champion was the one conquering a global competition with a country’s flag or the top dog in the most elite league! It was a spicy discussion that had the sports world buzzing for months.

Fast forward a year, and Lyles and the US basketball team proudly repped Team USA at the Paris Olympics, clinching gold with no drama in sight. Or so it seemed—until NFL star Tyreek Hill stirred the pot again and stepped into the fray with a bold challenge for Noah Lyles, the 100m Olympic champion and 200m Olympic bronze medalist.

On the Up & Adams show, Tyreek Hill was asked about his opinion on the NBA vs. Lyles, and he said that Lyles should stick to the track. Then, he went on to say that he would defeat the Olympic gold medalist in a race. He said, “I’m not going to beat him by a lot, but I would beat Noah Lyles.” Fans of track and field have roasted the idea that Tyreek Hill could outrun Noah Lyles, with US Paralympic athlete Nick Mayhugh even suggesting Lyles would make Hill look like he’s in the Paralympics. Adding to the trolling, a famous track and field coach dropped a detailed smackdown on the notion, saying Hill’s impressive but pales compared to Lyles’ world-class speed!

LaMonte Vaughn Jr., a coach at Grambling State University in Louisiana, put out a long post on X explaining that while Hill is an elite athlete, Lyles is not only one of the best athletes in the world right now; he is also creating opportunities for other local athletes to succeed. Then, Coach LaMonte laid down the stats: Tyreek Hill can’t outpace Noah Lyles in the 60 or 100 meters. Hill’s personal best of 10.19 wouldn’t even get him close to Lyles’ 9.78 Olympic gold time. Vaughn noted Hill’s 6.70 in the 60m is miles off Lyles’ 6.43, and while Tyreek’s 20.1 in the 200m is decent, it’s nowhere near Lyles’ 19.31 American record. In short, Vaughn emphasized that Hill’s Madden speed stats don’t match up to Lyles’ Olympic-level performances.

There is some basis for Hill’s arrogance, as he is considered the fastest NFL player and was an All-American in high school. But even FloTrack chimed in on the Tyreek Hill vs. Noah Lyles debate, comparing their high school stats and achievements. Hill, who claimed he could outpace Lyles, and Lyles, who has a 9.79 personal best, both posted impressive numbers in their younger years. Lyles clocked a wind-legal 10.14 in the 100m and 20.09 in the 200m, while Hill’s bests were 10.19 and 20.14, respectively.

Despite their similar high school PBs, FloTrack’s comparison shows Lyles’ edge with his superior times and gold medals, spotlighting the gap between their current performances. Casual fans might think the numbers are close, but in track, a 0.4-second gap is a chasm! It’s a bit of a head-scratcher to compare the NFL star with the world’s fastest man. But here’s a kicker: this isn’t Hill’s first track beef—he’s got a history of squabbles with Olympians!

Before taking on Noah Lyles, Tyreek Hill even dared to challenge the fastest man alive—Jamaican legend Usain Bolt!

Besides Noah Lyles, Tyreek Hill has another ongoing spat with Usain Bolt, even years after the phenom’s retirement. Hill’s been claiming he could outrun the Jamaican legend, and in May, Shannon Sharpe threw his hat in the ring, saying he’d back Hill for a race, citing Bolt’s retirement and Hill’s current peak performance. “Probably Tyreek. Usain Bolt probably has not run since he retired. Since he last ran the 2017 World Championship in which he won the Bronze. So I’ll take Tyreek,” Sharpe said.

But Bolt wasn’t having any of it, firing back on X, “Not even in the next universe.” Hill didn’t miss a beat, retorting, “You’re all talk old guy. I’ll come to Jamaica to whoop you if I got to.” Hill’s 4.29-second 40-yard dash from the 2016 NFL Combine is impressive, but Bolt’s 4.22-second sprint at the 2019 Super Bowl Experience still holds the edge. With Bolt’s resume of eight Olympic golds and world records, Hill’s challenge might be more of a sprint to nowhere. Now that Noah Lyles is in the mix, Tyreek Hill’s audacious claims are getting even more intriguing.

Comparing Lyles’ elite sprinting stats with Hill’s impressive 40-yard dash times, and considering insights from coach LaMonte Vaughn Jr., raises the stakes. Could Hill actually outrun Lyles, or is this another case of speed talk? Share your thoughts in the comments below!