The sprinter who held the NFL Combine's fastest record for seven years
In short: Before Xavier Worthy's 2024 sprint, John Ross was the fastest man at the NFL Combine. A former track star turned first-round pick, Ross's explosive speed made him a top prospect, but injuries and a difficult rookie season would soon complicate his professional journey.
John Ross entered the 2017 NFL Draft as a highly touted prospect, ranked as the second best wide receiver by both Sports Illustrated and NFLDraftScout.com. His elite speed was cemented at the NFL Combine, where he clocked a 4.22-second 40-yard dash, breaking the previous record of 4.24 seconds held by Chris Johnson. This performance remained the gold standard for seven years until Xavier Worthy clocked 4.21 seconds in 2024.
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Ross with the ninth overall pick in 2017, signing him to a four-year, $17.1 million contract that included a $10.6 million signing bonus. However, his transition to the professional level was fraught with setbacks. He entered the draft having already suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder, an injury he re-aggravated during the 2016 Peach Bowl against Alabama.
Ross's rookie season was widely described as disastrous. After a debut against the Houston Texans where he fumbled his only carry, he spent much of the year as a healthy scratch or on injured reserve. While he found more success in 2018 and 2019—notably recording 506 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2019—his career was marked by recurring injuries to his shoulder, knee, and foot. After stints with the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles, Ross eventually retired from the Chiefs in 2024, only to attempt a comeback later that same year.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: John Ross (American football)
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