American sprint legend has offered his expert analysis on the much-anticipated 2025 showdown between Olympic sprint champion and NFL star
The head-to-head race is part of the » series, a new event within the Duel Competition track league, hosted by Terry Crews and his crew.
The highly anticipated race between triple-world champion Noah Lyles and NFL star Tyreek Hill is nearing confirmation, as both have agreed to compete in the sprint showdown.
After months of playful trash talk between Hill and Lyles, the rivalry is set to be settled on the track, sparking excitement among fans and athletes alike.
On his podcast, alongside co-host Rodney Greene, Gatlin shared his thoughts on when the race might happen and how each athlete’s strengths could play out depending on the timing.
According to Gatlin, if the race takes place after the track and field season ends in September 2025, Tyreek Hill may have an advantage, particularly because of his quick start.
“I am predicting that it is not going to be in the prime of track season. We are looking at the point of, ‘how sharp is Noah going to be?’” Gatlin questioned, noting that Lyles’ performance might depend on how much time he has had to rest or train after the season.
Lyles has dismissed the idea of betting on his gold medals as well as Hill's NFL rings, citing he is "not interested" as the war of words between the two over who is faster continue.
Gatlin pointed out that Lyles’ starts have been inconsistent, especially when it comes to his angles exiting the blocks, and his strength lies in the second half of his race. “The best advantage that Tyreek Hill has is catching Noah while not at his sharpest,” Gatlin added.
Addressing Lyles’ potential readiness, Gatlin continued, “For the people out there saying Noah is not going to win, I think the reason why he is not going to win is the timing of the season, where he is at with his track training. Is he going to be rusty? Is he going to be ready? What does that look like?”
However, Gatlin emphasized that if the race reaches 45 meters or more, Lyles’ endurance and late-race surge will likely give him the edge.
Greene once ran an insane 9.82 race to win the 2001 100 meter world title despite limping to the finish line to finish ahead of Montgommery.
“Anything after 30 meters, I think, will fall on who is in the best shape at that moment and who is technically sound. If they make it even to 45 meters, it might be a race, but Noah is going to be ready.”
Co-host Rodney Greene agreed with Gatlin’s analysis but also offered his “I think it definitely brings a lot more eyes to track and field,” Greene said, acknowledging how the event could boost the sport’s visibility. While football is “the number one viewed athletic presentation in the world,” he believes that this high-profile race could elevate track and field’s standing.
When it comes to the outcome, Greene was clear: “If they race 50 meters, Tyreek doesn’t have a chance,” he said, confidently backing Lyles’ ability to dominate the shorter distance. However, Greene added that if the race extends beyond 50 meters, Tyreek Hill, who has a background as a former track and field athlete, might have a better chance of leveling the playing field.
As anticipation builds for this unique showdown, all eyes will be on Noah Lyles and Tyreek Hill. Lyles, a world champion and Olympic medalist, has been dominant on the track, while Hill, known for his blazing speed as a wide receiver, brings a different kind of athleticism to the race. Regardless of the outcome, the race is expected to captivate audiences and potentially bring a new wave of excitement to track and field.