After claiming his fourth straight 60m victory at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in February, sprint king Noah Lyles didn’t mince words. Holding up a bib that boldly read “Tyreek could never,” Lyles made sure the NFL world — and one Miami Dolphin in particular — got the message loud and clear. But Noah didn’t stop there. “I think it speaks for itself,” he said, doubling down in the post-race interview. “Everybody says that they’re gonna be the world’s fastest, but when it comes down to it, you gotta be the winner every time, each and every time, and every time I show up to the biggest moments, I win.” The target? Tyreek Hill. And the reply? See for yourself…

Tyreek Hill, the NFL’s resident blur, is known as “Cheetah” for his breakaway speed on the field. The same Tyreek who, after Lyles’ Olympic triumph in Paris, called him out for a 50-yard race. Since then, the banter has evolved into a full-blown rivalry. “This has been an ongoing thing for quite some time now,” Hill said, addressing the drama. “Everybody’s seen the back and forth on social media. I’ve been very adamant to show people what real, true speed looks like,” However, the track god listened. Soon after, both athletes confirmed that they would go head-to-head in a race scheduled for sometime in the spring or summer, ahead of Lyles’ appearance at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which kick off on July 31. While the venue for the much-anticipated showdown remains undisclosed, the war of words between the two shows no signs of slowing down. Now, Cheetah’s claws are out.

On June 13, in a surprise appearance at the Last Chance Sprint Series in Los Angeles, Tyreek Hill didn’t just show up — he laced up. Competing in the 100m, he didn’t carry a chip on his shoulder. He carried a message in his hand: a paper that read, in bold, “NOAH COULD NEVER.” The crowd? Erupted. The message? Crystal clear. In fact, Hill doubled down his message through his performance on the track, just as Noah did in February. 

At that time, Noah ran a 60m indoor race, before his loud message. On June 13, the Miami Dolphins’ wide receiver stepped onto the outdoor track at the Last Chance Sprint Series and did exactly what Lyles has yet to do this season: line up for a 100m. And he didn’t just run it—he delivered. Clocking 10.15 seconds (+1.2 m/s wind), Hill shattered his personal best of 10.19, a mark he’d set back in 2012 as an 18-year-old high school phenom.

To put it into perspective: that time would have qualified him for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2024. He would’ve slotted in as the 30th-fastest sprinter in the nation. Is it decent or extraordinary? That’s for the track world to debate. But one thing is clear: Hill is not just talking — he’s timing.And he wasn’t done with the showmanship either. Warming up for the race, Tyreek walked onto the track wearing the jersey of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a nod to his teammate’s return from injury. It was a heartfelt moment — but it came with another message: He’s here. He’s serious. And he’s ready. Meanwhile, Noah Lyles has yet to run a 100m this season. Concerned? Not quite. 

Noah Lyles doesn’t want to care for Tyreek Hill’s challenge 

Long before the jabs and jawing turned into a full-on track vs. turf rivalry, Noah Lyles had a feeling this day would come. In May, the Olympic champion sat down with Cam Newton on the Funky Friday Podcast and opened up about why he’s so determined to settle the score with Tyreek Hill — on the track.

“He’s going off after the Olympics, talking about, ‘Yeah, yeah, I could beat Noah Lyles,’” Lyles recalled. “And I knew he would do that, because he does it every time somebody fast, new comes around,” Lyles said. Lyles didn’t stop there. The world champion sprinter said he’d been watching Hill do this for years, calling out the next speed sensation from the sidelines. 

“And as a kid, I’ve watched him do this for years. I’m just like, ‘Man, if he ever puts my name in his mouth, we racing.’ The message? This isn’t about clout. It’s about clarity. While some track purists have questioned why Lyles would even entertain racing a football player, fearing it might “demean” the sport or water down the competition, Lyles offered a different perspective.

“In my head, it’s like, this is just another opportunity,” he explained. If we’re over here trying to prove that we’re the fastest people in the world, but we only race other track people, how are they going to really know how fast we are?” It’s not a publicity stunt. It’s a mission.

Lyles is chasing more than medals — he’s chasing a moment. One where the whole world watches, and there’s no debate about who truly holds the crown of fastest man alive. And when Tyreek Hill finally said his name? Noah was already laced up.