Track Speed on the Gridiron: Current NFL Players who Competed in Track & Field

A track and field background provides athletes with a unique and invaluable foundation for excelling in the world of football. While these two sports may seem vastly different in terms of their objectives and skill sets, the athleticism and attributes honed in track and field often prove to be a game-changer on the football field.

From the explosive speed of sprinters and the agility of jumpers, track and field athletes bring a diverse set of physical abilities that can enhance a football player’s performance in a multitude of positions.

Alphabetized by team, below are athletes who competed on the track, either in high school college, and in some cases professionally en route to their spot on a coveted 53-man NFL roster.

For those just listed without a further description, we were able to find evidence of their participating in track and field, but not much else. Did we miss someone or perhaps more details can be added? let us know in the comments below!

Arizona Cardinals

Marquise Brown, Wide Receiver

As an 11th grader Brown ran the 100 meters in a time of 11.53 seconds at the Florida High Schools Athletic Association’s 4A District 13 regional championship track meet. He transferred to Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School where in addition to playing football he also ran track, improving his 100-meter time to 10.90 seconds and posting a personal-best time of 21.94 seconds in the 200 meters.

Budda Baker, Safety

Budda Baker ran the sprints and competed in the long jump for Bellevue High School in Washington. Boasting personal record times of 10.75, 21.66, and 50.62 seconds for the 100m, 200m, and 400m, he was a force on the track, earning state titles in the 100m, 200m, and as part of the 4×100 relay his senior year, in addition to the 100m, 4x100m, and 4x400m title his junior year. In the long jump he finished third in the state his junior year, and has a personal record leap of 23′-7″.

Trey McBride, Tight End

Atlanta Falcons

Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson, Quarterback

Lamar Jackson ran the 100m and compete in the long jump for Boynton Beach High School in Florida. He posted personal bests of 11.45 seconds (100m) and a distance of 19’5″ in the long jump.

Marlon Humphrey, Cornerback

Marlon Humphrey was a world-class track athlete while at Hoover High School in Alabama. He competed in both the 110 meter hurdles and the 400 meters at the 2013 World Youth Championships, earning a silver medal in the hurdles, and making it to the finals of the 400. Humphrey was named to the USA Today All-American Track and Field Team. At the University of Alabama, he competed for the Crimson Tide his freshman season on the track, primarily competing in the 4×400 relay.

Devin Duvernay, Wide Receiver

Devin Duvernay was a Texas state sprinting standout in while at Garland Sachse High School. His junior year in 2015, Duvernay posted a 10.27 second 100 meters and earned the state title the same season.

Buffalo Bills

Stefon Diggs, Wide Receiver

While at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Maryland, Stefon Diggs ran the 100m and 200m. He posted a personal best times of 12 seconds in the 100 meters and 22.30 seconds in the 200.

Cincinnati Bengals

Ja’Marr Chase, Wide Receiver

Ja’Marr Chase ran the sprints and competed in the high jump and long jump for Archbishop Rummel High School in Louisiana. He had personal best times of 11.05 seconds and 22.85 seconds in the 100m and 200m, respectively. The long jump is where he most excellent, setting a personal best of 24′-2.25″ and winning the Louisiana 5A state title his junior year.

Cleveland Browns

Marquise Goodwin, Wide Receiver

Marquise Goodwin was already a world-class athletes in high school. While at Rowlett High, he had the second fastest 100-meter time (10.24s) in the state, was the state champion in the triple jump and long jump, and was a member of the state title-winning 4×100-meter relay. He won seven Texas state championships while.

At the 2008 World Junior Championships, he earned the gold medal in the long jump, and tallied two USA Junior Championship gold medals in the event in 2008 and 2009. At the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Goodwin set the national high school record in the long jump and placed fifth (26’10”) among a field of professional athletes.

While at the University of Texas, he continued his career on the track while also lighting up defenses as a wide receiver for the Longhorns. Goodwin earned two NCAA long jump championships (2010 and 2012) and four All-American honors. In 2011 and 2012, he also won the USA Championship in the long jump, and earned a spot on the 2012 Olympic Team.

Elijah Moore, Wide Receiver

Elijah Moore attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, FL where competed in the sprints, specializing in the 100m and 200m. He ran personal best times of 11.11 and 23.15 seconds for the two events. Also competing in the long jump his junior year, he leapt to a personal best distance on 19′-6.75″.

Denzel Ward, Cornerback

Denzel Ward was an Ohio state standout in the 100 and 200 meters while at Nordonia High School in Macedonia, OH. As a senior at the Division 1 region 1 finals, he ran a personal best time of 10.49 seconds in the 100 meters, placing 1st. His personal best in the 200 meters is 21.38 seconds, in which he placed third at the state championships.

Green Bay Packers

Jaire Alexander, Cornerback

Jaire Alexander competed in the sprints and sprint relays while at Rocky River High School in Mint Hill, NC. He set personal best times of 11.54s (100m) and 22.92s (200m).

Houston Texans

Robert Woods, Wide Receiver

Robert Woods was a nationwide standout on the track while attending Junípero Serra High School in Gardena, California. Setting personal bests of 21.04s (200m) and 46.17s (400m), he was a 2010 All-USA high school track & field selection by USA Today. In the same year, he earned a runner-up finish at the California state championship meet in the 400m and a third place finish in the 200m. His personal best 400m time put him at #11 on the world junior rankings and #4 among junior quarter-milers in the US.

Devin Singletary, Running Back

Devin Singletary ran the 100m while at American Heritage High School in Delray Beach, FL. He set a personal best time of 11.68 seconds.

Kansas City Chiefs

Justin Reid, Safety

Competing for Dutchtown High School in Geismar, LA, Justin Reid competed in the 200m and 110m hurdles, notching personal bests of 23.3 seconds and 14.44 seconds, respectively.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Running Back

Edwards-Helaire competed in the sprints and long jump for Catholic High School Baton Rouge, LA. He had personal best times of 7.32 seconds (60m), 11.44 seconds (100m), and a best distance of 21′-7.5″ for the long jump.

Kadarius Toney, Wide Receiver

From Mobile, AL and Blount High School, Kadarius Toney competed in the 100 meters, long jump, and even threw the javelin. He recorded personal bests of 11.50 seconds for the 100m, 21′-5″ in the long jump, and threw for 148′ with the javelin before transitioning to the University of Florida to play football for the Gators.

Las Vegas Raiders

Marcus Peters, Cornerback

Marcus Peters ran the sprints for McClymonds High School in Oakland, CA. In his senior season he won the 100 meters (10.87s) and 200 meters (22.91s) at the Oakland Athletic League Championships.

Los Angeles Chargers

Gerald Everett, Tight End

Miami Dolphins

Tyreek Hill, Wide Receiver

Tyreek Hill was named Track and Field News’s High School Athlete of the year in 2012 and was a USA Today All-American. At Coffee High School in Douglas, GA, he won both the 100 meters and 200 meters at the 2012 Georgia 5A state meet. While in high school, Hill posted personal best times of 10.19 seconds and 20.14 seconds for the 100 and 200, respectively. In 2013, he ran a wind-aided 9.98 second 100 meter at the NJCCA Championships.

At the 2012 World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Hill earned an individual bronze medal in the 200 meters and a relay gold in the 4x100m as part of Team USA. In college, he competed for Oklahoma State in both track and football.

Jalen Ramsey, Cornerback

Jalen Ramsey had a highly decorated high school track career for Brentwood Academy in Tennessee, competing in the sprints, jumps, and throws. As a sprinter, he recorded personal best times of 10.50s (100m), 21.44s (200m), and 48.02 (400s). Ramsey established personal bests in the high jump at 6′-8″ and the triple jump with 47′-7″. He also posted a top throw of 49′-11″ in the shot put. He also set the Tennessee state record in the long jump with a mark of 25′-3.25″.

While chewing up offenses as a cornerback for Florida State, he was also earning All-Conference honors for his abilities on the track. He competed for the Seminoles in the sprint relays, and individually in the long jump, earning the ACC Conference Championship in 2015 with a leap of 26′-1.5″.

Jaylen Waddle, Wide Receiver

Jaylen Waddle took to the sprints early in his prep career at Episcopal High School in Bellaire, TX. He ran a personal best 100 meter time his freshman year of 10.68 seconds (though it was a bit windy at +6.9), which he followed with a slightly-less wind-aided 10.84 second (+3.5) 100-meter his sophomore year. He also set personal bests in the 200m at 22.40 seconds (during his freshman season), and a 22′-9.75″ long jump in his sophomore year.

De’Von Achane, Running Back

De’Von Achane was a standout track athlete while at Thurgood Marshall High School in Missouri City, TX, earning the Texas Gatorade Track & Field Athlete of the Year award in 2020. During his prep career, he ran personal bests of 10.53 and 20.46 seconds for the 100m and 200m, respectively. He also competed in the long jump, tallying a best of 20′-2″.

While at Texas A&M, Achane continued his prowess on the oval, putting down blazing fast times for 60 meters (6.63s), 100 meters (10.04s), and 200 meters (20.31s).

Raheem Mostert, Running Back

As a track athlete at New Smyrna Beach High School in Florida, Mostert was a standout sprinter, hurdler, and jumper. He won the state title in the 300m hurdles in 2010, and at the 2011 state championship, he finished first in the 100 meters with a time of 10.68 seconds, also finishing fourth in the 300m hurdles with a personal-best time of 37.95 seconds.

Mostert continued his career on the track at Purdue University. Mostert took gold in both the 60 meters (6.63s) and 200 meters (20.73s) at the 2014 Big Ten Conference Championships. He qualified for the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 100 meters (10.15s), 200 meters (20.65s), and as a member of 4×100 relay squad.

Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson, Wide Receiver

Justin Jefferson competed in the sprints and jumps in high school in Louisiana, posting personal records of 21′-11″ in the long jump and 43′-0.5″ in the triple jump his senior year. He competed in the 4x200m and 4x400m relays at the 2017 LHSSA 5A Region 3 Championships, running 1:29.63 and 3:28.86, respectively, as part of the team.

New England Patriots

Jalen Reagor, Wide Receiver

Jalen Reagor competed in both the sprints and the jumps Waxahachie High School in Texas. His personal best time of 10.92 seconds for 100 meters came his junior season, and posted a PR of 22.00 for 200 meters his senior season. Reagor excelled in the jumps, setting personal records in the high jump (6′-6″) and long jump (26′-0″), both during his senior campaign. At the Texas UIL state championship meet, he earned the long jump title with a leap of 24′-5″, also during his senior year.

New Orleans Saints

Tyrann Mathieu, Safety

Tyrann Mathieu competed for St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, LA, and was a member of the sprint relays and was one of the state’s top performers in the long jump. He had personal-best leaps of 6′-4″ in the high jump and 23′-11″ in the long jump. The latter earned him a runner-up finish at the Louisiana state championship meet.

Chris Olave, Wide Receiver

Chris Olave ran the sprints and competed in the long jump for Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, CA. He set personal bests of 10.82s and 22.36s for the 100m and 200m, respectively. In the long jump, he set a big PR of 23′-6″ his junior year.

New York Giants

Kayvon Thibodeaux, Linebacker

Kayvon Thibadeaux ran the 100 meters his freshman year at Susan Miller Dorsey High School in California, tallying a best time of 11.69 seconds.

New York Jets

Mecole Hardman, Wide Receiver

While attending Elbert County High School in Elberton, GA, Mecole Hardman was an accomplished sprinter and jumper. He competed in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and triple jump. He notched a personal best of 10.74 seconds for 100m en route to a runner-up finish at the Georgia state championship. He also leapt to a runner-up state championship finish in the long jump and a third place finish in the triple jump. His personal records for those events are 23′-11″ (long jump) and 46′-9.25″ (triple jump).

While at the University of Georgia, Hardman competed as a member of the 4×100 relay team for two seasons.

Garrett Wilson, Wide Receiver

The NFL’s 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year competed in the 100 meters and long jump while at Lake Travis High School in Austin, TX. Wilson set personal best marks of 11.39s (100m) and 22′-2.25″ (long jump).

Philadelphia Eagles

Devon Allen, Wide Receiver

The most decorated track and field athlete currently rostered with an NFL team, Devon Allen was not only a standout on the football field with the University of Oregon, but also an NCAA Champion in the 110m hurdles.

Allen is a three-time USA Champion between the 110m hurdles (2016, 2018) and 60m hurdles (2019), and has competed at two Olympics (2016 and 2021) and three World Championships (2017, 2019, and 2022) as part of Team USA. His personal best time of 12.84 seconds for 110m hurdles ranks as third-fastest all-time.

Kenneth Gainwell, Running Back

Kenneth Gainwell competed in the sprints and especially excelled in the jumps at Yazoo County High School in Yazoo City, MS. He set a personal best time of 11.35 seconds for 100 meters, and leapt to 21′-9″ in the long jump and 45′-0″ in the triple jump. During his senior season, Gainwell as first runner-up in the triple jump at the Mississippi state championship.

Jalen Hurts, Quarterback

Jalen Hurts threw the shot put for Channelview High School in Texas. He set a personal best mark of 46′-11.25″.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Safety

Minkah Fitzpatrick competed in the sprints and long jump for St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey. He placed first at the Hudson County Championships with times of 10.86 seconds and 21.66 seconds in the 100 and 200 meters, respectively, both personal best times. At the 2014 state championship meet, Fitzpatrick finished as first runner-up in both the 100m and long jump. His jump of 22′-0″ at that meet is also his personal best.

During his freshman year at the University of Alabama, he competed in the 60m for the Crimson Tide, running 7.05 seconds at the New Mexico Classic.

George Pickens, Wide Receiver

San Francisco 49ers

Isaiah Oliver, Cornerback

Isaiah Oliver was a national standout at Brophy College Preparatory High School in Phoenix. During his prep career, he was ranked #3 in the USA in the 300 meter hurdles and boasted a 100 meter personal best of 10.56 seconds. During his senior year, he was Arizona state champion in the Decathlon, 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and 4×400.

Oliver also competed in the decathlon at the University of Colorado, earning all-Pac12 honors.

Seattle Seahawks

DK Metcalf, Wide Receiver

DK Metcalf in the sprint relays, hurdles, and triple jump for Oxford High School in Mississippi. He ran personal best times of 14.89 seconds in the 110m hurdles, which earned him a second place finish at the state meet his senior season. His personal best triple jump of 46′-5″ was also set his senior year at the Mississippi 5A state championship meet, also earning him a second place finish.

Metcalf famously lined up against elite competition in the 100m at the 2021 USATF Golden Games where he finished 9th in a respectable 10.36s.

Jamal Adams, Safety

Jamal Adams ran the 100m and 200m while at Hebron High School in Carrollton, TX. He set personal best times of 10.83s (100m) and 21.84s (200m), both during his senior year.

Washington Commanders

Logan Thomas, Tight End

Logan Thomas competed for his school’s track and field team his junior and senior years at Brookville High in Lynchburg, VA. He earned all-state honors in the 110m hurdles (14.95s), 300m hurdles (41.03s), high jump (6′-5″), and discus (157’4″). He also had personal bests of 21′-9″ in the long jump and 47”-0.5″ in the shot put.

Jahan Dotson, Wide Receiver

Jahan Dotson competed in the sprints and long jump for Nazareth Area High School in Pennsylvania. He boasts personal records of 11.04s (100m), 21.78s (200m) and 24′-4.5″ (long jump).