The long-awaited showdown between Olympic champion Noah Lyles and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill has hit a snag. What was expected to be a landmark event, filled with fast feet, bright lights, and fierce bragging rights, was supposed to unfold in the heart of Times Square this past weekend.
The event has instead been shelved, leaving fans wondering what really happened.
Noah Lyles and Tyreek Hill’s Race Faces Setback as Personal Complications Surface
The sprint race, intended to settle the debate over who is faster — the world’s top sprinter or one of the NFL’s quickest — was already in advanced planning. Lyles, fresh off a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 100-meter dash time of 9.784 seconds, revealed just how close the event came to reality.
“We were very deep into creating the event. In fact, it was supposed to happen this weekend,” Lyles shared during his appearance at Sport Beach Cannes 2025. “Unfortunately, there were some things, complications, personal reasons that it just didn’t come to pass, but we were full on.”
Plans for the race weren’t modest. The event was intended to shut down Times Square, complete with billboards and a full-scale media rollout. Lyles described the vision in glowing terms and made it clear that this wasn’t just an internet stunt.
“A lot of people didn’t believe it to be true. They thought it was just, ‘Oh, this is just them talking online,’” he said. “We had to bring it to fruition.”
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Despite the public skepticism, Lyles seemed to be the driving force behind making the race happen. He said both fans and sponsors had doubts, but he stepped in to handle the logistics.
“It’s like, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this. I know what to do… trust me,’” he added.
While the exact “personal reasons” remain unclear, one reported incident involving Tyreek Hill may have played a role. Hill was involved in a domestic disturbance with his ex-wife, Keeta, in April. Given Hill’s past off-field history, including a 2015 domestic assault conviction and a 2019 child abuse investigation, the impact on event planning can’t be overlooked, though no official connection has been confirmed.
Still, Hill isn’t backing down. The Dolphins’ wideout recently ran a 10.15-second 100-meter dash at the Last Chance Sprint Series and held up a sign afterward that read, “Noah could never.” While it’s an impressive time for someone who hasn’t run competitively in years, it’s still a good distance off from Lyles’ Olympic pace.
According to NBC Sports, the opportunity to reschedule the race may have passed. Hill is now focused on the 2025 NFL season.
For now, the showdown is on ice. Whether it ever reaches the starting blocks remains to be seen.