Why much anticipated Noah Lyles, Tyreek Hill match-up was cancelled
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 19.06.25. | 16:50
The event was reportedly set to shut down Times Square, complete with billboard promotions and a carnival-like atmosphere
What was shaping up to be one of the most intriguing crossover matchups in modern track and field history has officially been shelved.
The highly anticipated race between Paris Olympics 100m champion Noah Lyles and NFL speedster Tyreek Hill will not be taking place as originally scheduled.
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After months of teasing and fan speculation, Lyles confirmed at the Sport Beach event in Cannes, France, that plans to stage the race this weekend in New York City’s Times Square had fallen through.
The 100m Olympic champion revealed that they were close to pulling off a spectacle unlike any other.
“We were very deep into creating the event. It was supposed to happen this weekend. Unfortunately, there were some things, complications, and personal reasons that just did not come to pass. But we were full on,” Lyles told the New York Post.
The event was reportedly set to shut down Times Square, complete with billboard promotions and a carnival-like atmosphere. But despite the buzz, the logistics could not line up.
The race had its roots in a string of interviews and playful jabs between the two athletes. Lyles, coming off his 9.79-second 100m win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was open to a 100m showdown.
Hill, the Miami Dolphins receiver known for his explosive speed, hinted he would prefer a shorter 40m dash, more aligned with football metrics.
Both had agreed in principle back in February, saying that the event was a go. But with Lyles gearing up for July’s USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the London Diamond League, and Hill returning to NFL preparations after offseason wrist surgery, the window to make it happen closed fast.
Hill, to his credit, competed in a track meet on Friday, 13 June, and clocked 10.15 seconds in the 100m. His time, though impressive, still fell short of Lyles' elite Olympic pace.
With Lyles focusing on defending his global titles and Hill locked into Dolphins’ OTAs and training camp, there is little hope the race will be rescheduled this year.
Meanwhile, Hill, entering his fourth season with Miami, continues to chase leadership and respect within the locker room.
He remains one of the NFL’s most electric weapons, finishing last season with 81 catches, 959 yards, and six touchdowns, even as the Dolphins stumbled to an 8–9 finish.
