After years of jawing with four-time Olympic champ Noah Lyles, the Miami Dolphins wide receiver has finally had his wish granted—a race is coming in the spring or summer of 2025, as confirmed by People Magazine on Feb. 13, 2025. But here’s another catch. Eight-time Track and field world champion is filling in with a grander vision, compromising to provide Hill an opportunity while announcing ambitious plans for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Ever wondered what happens when a football speedster like Tyreek Hill steps onto a track to face off with the world’s elite sprinters? Well, we’re about to find out.

Michael Johnson, a track legend, sat down with Rich Eisen in-studio to discuss how he integrated Hill into the sprinting world without upsetting its feathers. “It is respecting the craft the way that we’ve done it,” he described, discussing how his Grand Slam Track format makes room for the outside people like Hill.

“So in our format, we have a space for special races for all the individuals outside of track who feel like they’re fast too—like Tyreek like some of these creators who are gonna talk about how fast they’re gonna be.”

The concept?

Match these prominent figures in showcase races with the feature events. “We can pair those people up in our format,” Johnson said, referring to a slate that’ll build up by the LA Games. Imagine this: Lyles burning up the pros, then Hill racing a YouTuber or a celebrity—all under one electric banner.

Tyreek Hill’s been yearning for this moment, relying on his 4.29-second 40-yard dash bravado to demonstrate that he’s more than a football “Cheetah.”

Lyles, however, has been making him sweat like lint, giving a “Tyreek could never” sign after a February 2025 6.52-second 60-meter victory. Johnson’s compromise maintains the truce—Hill receives his chance, but it’s not center stage. “Those are exhibition, not of the core thing, but in the exhibition,” Johnson explained. “You get to see the quickest in the world, but you get to see some of the guys who are stars in some other venue.” It’s a two-way street as the track remains clean, and Hill gets to show off his stuff.

Looking forward to 2028, Johnson’s planning big. “I think by LA we’ll have some pretty compelling names that’ll compete,” he explained. Picture the atmosphere—Olympic sprinters competing for gold, then a side stage where Hill, perhaps a TikTok speedster, or even a Hollywood star tests their legs.

“If you think you’re fast, come on,” Johnson invited, keeping his doors wide open. For Hill, this may be just a warm-up—his 2025 bout with Lyles may be the appetizer to the main course of Johnson’s speed circus in LA.

So what’s the lesson? Hill’s getting his race, but Johnson’s playing long ball, fusing worlds without fracturing the track’s essence. Lyles may still blow him away—those 9.784-second Olympic legs don’t deceive. But Hill’s got a lane due to Johnson’s vision of big tents.

By 2028, this may be the ultimate battle of speed, celebrity, and plain old guts. Who’s ready to lace up? And does Johnson think Tyreek has got it in himself?

Michael Johnson weighed in on Tyreek Hill’s potential as a track athlete

Michael Johnson has often opined on Tyreek Hill’s potential as a track athlete. Yes, he considered Hill’s status as one of the fastest players in the NFL. Johnson has always been skeptical about Hill’s potential to switch from football to elite-level track and field, especially in events like the Olympics or his own Grand Slam Track (GST) league.

For example, Johnson has contended that Hill may have incredible raw speed. It’s seen through his NFL performances, like reaching 22.64 MPH in a play—but track sprinting demands a different set of skills, i.e., technical proficiency in starting and specialized training for years.

Johnson, himself, previously declared that Hill “knows what his sport is,” stating that football speed cannot be automatically related to world-class track success due to the sport’s intricacies.

But Johnson has also been interested in Hill as a possible player in his GST league, initiated to promote professional track athletes. He indicated in 2024 that he would like Hill, known as “Cheetah,” to run in the first event, saying it could be a hoot and something to see.

However, this interest appears promotional rather than a sincere belief in Hill’s capability to compete with elite sprinters such as Noah Lyles, whom Johnson has stated would “destroy” Hill in a 100-meter dash. Johnson’s remarks tend to strike a balance between respect for Hill’s athleticism and a strong position that NFL speedsters do not have the experience to compete with committed track stars.

But Johnson has also been interested in Hill as a possible player in his GST league, initiated to promote professional track athletes. He indicated in 2024 he would like Hill, known as “Cheetah,” to run in the first event, saying it could be a hoot and something to see. However, this interest appears promotional rather than a sincere belief in Hill’s capability to compete with elite sprinters such as Noah Lyles, whom Johnson has stated would “destroy” Hill in a 100-meter dash.

Johnson’s remarks tend to strike a balance between respect for Hill’s athleticism and a strong position that NFL speedsters do not have the experience to compete with committed track stars.