What started as a highly anticipated sprint showdown between NFL star Tyreek Hill and Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles has ended with more online drama than finish-line action.
The Miami Dolphins wide receiver, known as “Cheetah” for his lightning speed, has been hyping a 100-meter race against Lyles for months.
But when the Olympic champ unexpectedly dropped out due to “personal reasons,” Hill wasted no time letting everyone know he wasn’t impressed.
Lyles Backs Out of Times Square Sprint Spectacle
Noah Lyles, the 2024 Olympic gold medalist in the 100m, revealed this week that he and Hill were very close to locking in a blockbuster race—so big, in fact, it was supposed to shut down Times Square.
Speaking at the Cannes Lions festival, Lyles said everything was coming together: sponsorships, billboards, and a huge New York City event.
But just days before the planned race, he pulled out.
“Unfortunately there were some complications,” Lyles explained. “Personal reasons… it just didn’t come to pass.”
Hill Responds with Memes and Jabs on Social Media
Tyreek Hill wasn’t about to let the race cancellation slide quietly.
The NFL speedster hopped on social media, posting the classic Homer Simpson “disappearing into the bushes” meme, implying that Lyles got scared after watching Hill’s latest race performance.
Alongside that, Hill shared a photo of himself on the track with a sign that read: “Noah Could Never”—clearly taking another swipe at the Olympian.
He added a blunt caption: “I was right.”
Can Hill Really Outrun an Olympian?
While Hill’s recent 100-meter sprint time of 10.15 seconds at the Last Chance Sprint Series is impressive—especially for a football player—Lyles’ personal best is a blazing 9.79 seconds.
That’s a massive gap in sprinting terms.
Still, Hill’s confidence isn’t wavering.
Even though he’s recovering from multiple offseason surgeries for a wrist injury and facing uncertainties with the Dolphins, the 31-year-old seems to have no shortage of swagger.
Off the Track, Hill’s Life is Just as Turbulent
The drama doesn’t stop at the race. Hill’s offseason has been full of headlines—for all the wrong reasons.
His marriage to Keeta Vaccaro hit the rocks after a disturbing incident at their Miami condo.
Police were called in April for what was reported as an “assault in progress.”
While no charges were filed, Vaccaro filed for divorce the very next day.
In court filings, her mother described Hill as “aggressive and impulsive.”
There was also a troubling moment where Hill allegedly took their infant daughter from the home without consent.
The police, citing legal constraints, told Vaccaro she had to let him take the child.
More Legal Woes and a Growing Family
To make matters more complicated, Hill is also being sued by a model who claims he broke her leg during a football lesson in 2023.
And according to reports, he could be the father of as many as 12 children, five of them born within just the last year.
Despite all the off-field chaos, Hill did show up this week for the Dolphins’ OTAs in Miami, trying to focus on football as the new season approaches.
A Race That’s Off the Track—for Now
Will the Hill vs. Lyles showdown ever happen? At this point, it’s more of a social media saga than a sporting event.
But one thing’s for sure: if the race ever does get rescheduled, it’s already got the drama and trash talk to make it a must-watch.
Until then, Hill continues to play offense—online, in courtrooms, and maybe someday again, on the track.