Is there any NFL player that could currently run a 4:30 mile?

Decathlon training is a lot more aerobic than Football training. Football training is a lot of technique/skill, explosion and strength training.

I know this is a flawed comparison, but I (as an 800/1500 runner) was beating the college football players who trained with us in the summer over 150 and 200m intervals. There is a big difference between Dec and Football endurance and a world of difference between a miler's and football player's endurance.

I don't think you all have any idea how different the skill sets needed to play in the NFL and run a 4:30 mile are. Running a 4:30 is pretty unique. For example, there are only 12 high school runners in Pennsylvania this year, who have previously run sun 4:30. I went to high school with 400 meter state champion who went on to play defensive back in the NFL. He ran 1:58 for the half. Never attempted the mile. Watching how dead he was at the end of the half, I don't think he could have broken 4:30; or even really come close. In college, with all the lifting, he got way too big to think about doing something like that. Even kickers and punters would be unlikely. They possess explosive muscle fibers; more geared toward sprinting or pitching in baseball. There are nearly 2000 active NFL players. Could there be 1 who could run 4:30--sure. However, it's unlikely.

Your first point is flawed. Football does not require next level conditioning on all systems. Yes, these players have insane coordination, strength explosiveness and top speed. However, strong aerobic ability is not required to play football. WR's/DB's typically run for less than 6 seconds per play, and for ~65 plays a game, with 30-40 seconds breaks in between plays, plus 2 minute long commercial breaks.

Secondly, they don't run 6 miles a game. You probably read something about World Football aka. Soccer, not Amercian Football.

Ted Ginn was a very good runner, but he is a sprinter/hurdler. Is there any sprinter that can run a sub 4:30 off of the training he does for 60/100/200? No, you need a decent amount of mileage and threshold running to perform in the mile. Yes, it is extremely impressive to see World Class sprinters run, I've witnessed some, but that ability does not translate to strong performances in an aerobic event such as the mile.

Holy crap. Some 350 LB lineman couldn't run a mile if he had three days let alone 5 minutes.

These guys are human, they play an american GAME, they are not superhuman. Being a PRO in a GAME, means nothing. 100% my ass.

They couldn't run that even after hitting a woman and running from the police.

I really hope this is a troll post but I'll still answer it.

First of all, I'm assuming you know that we're talking about NFL (american football) here and that by 30-40% of the league you mean 30-40% of Running backs, receivers and DB's. If you're saying every single 250-300lb lineman can run sub 5 I truly have no hope for humanity.

Anyway, saying that 30-40% of these "skill positions" have the aerobic capacity to run sub 4:30 and they can all run sub 5 is ridiculous. Yes they are crazy good athletes in terms of explosiveness, coordination, strength, top speed... but there's a reason they don't have an endurance test in the NFL combine: you don't need it to be good at football. An NFL endurance workout is "110-yard striders, shuttle runs etc..." (from BleacherReport), which is hardly the type of work required for a miler. Milers need to run at least 25 mpw, most doing over 40. There is no way an NFL player can run a 4:30 off football training, much less 30% of them. Yes, these guys are great athletes but that doesn't mean they are automatically great at everything.

Most people who are saying most NFL could go sub 4:30 are being influenced by Nfl Media, of course they hype these players up, they are trying to sell a larger than life game. Most NFL stats are inflated and exaggerated.

Maybe not quite 6 miles, as that sounds pretty long, but skill position players run a lot. I don't believe a running back could get close to a 4:30 mile as they're built with tremendous bulk and strength to handle the ground and pound of their position. Take an elite db or wr, they'll come damn close to 4:30, not sure if they'll hit quite that pace though. I'd venture to say between 4:40-5. If we take an NBA player though, it would be hard to argue that.

delusional dylan wrote:

Maybe not quite 6 miles, as that sounds pretty long, but skill position players run a lot. I don't believe a running back could get close to a 4:30 mile as they're built with tremendous bulk and strength to handle the ground and pound of their position. Take an elite db or wr, they'll come damn close to 4:30, not sure if they'll hit quite that pace though. I'd venture to say between 4:40-5. If we take an NBA player though, it would be hard to argue that.

They don't run a lot. Say they run ~20 yards on average for 70 plays, that's 1400yds/ 0,8 miles. Maybe a bit more, idk if my estimation per play is exact but they certainly won't go over 1,5 miles.

Secondly, the type of running they do isn't aerobically challenging. Sprint, long break, sprint, long break... that doesn't help your endurance at all. I'd say the skinnier DB's can get under 5, but yeah sub 4:30 is tough, a lot of distance runners, who are more talented aerobically than NFL'ers, struggle to break it.

I ran with three guys in college that had brief stints in the NFL as receivers or defensive backs. They were phenomenal athletes (one was a 47.xx 400 meter runner that I ran on the relay with occasionally). Most NFL cornerbacks could hit the 4:30 mark with little specific training. Heck, a good percentage of NFL kickers could probably hit that time if you gave them 3 months. A 4:30 mile is nothing compared to the NFL.

joedirt wrote:

I ran with three guys in college that had brief stints in the NFL as receivers or defensive backs. They were phenomenal athletes (one was a 47.xx 400 meter runner that I ran on the relay with occasionally). Most NFL cornerbacks could hit the 4:30 mark with little specific training. Heck, a good percentage of NFL kickers could probably hit that time if you gave them 3 months. A 4:30 mile is nothing compared to the NFL.

Get a grip, none of them can. A kicker? Janikowski? Come on?

It is the NFL, a game of stop and go, and then sit until you play stop and go again.

Yes, Ted Ginn Jr. wrote:

A young Ted Ginn Jr. may have been able to race sub-4:30 mile. Ginn, a 47.57 400m man.

Ted Ginn Jr. is a power packed, muscular 5-11, 180 pounder - that's too big to be running 4:30 miles. I see HS & college 5-11, 140 pounders run 4:30 miles not bigger football built dudes.

Think This One Through wrote:

Yes, Ted Ginn Jr. wrote:

A young Ted Ginn Jr. may have been able to race sub-4:30 mile. Ginn, a 47.57 400m man.

Ted Ginn Jr. is a power packed, muscular 5-11, 180 pounder - that's too big to be running 4:30 miles. I see HS & college 5-11, 140 pounders run 4:30 miles not bigger football built dudes.

No true. I ran a 4:15 mile at 230 lbs in my mid-30s after just starting running in my 30s. Did it with a completely detached hamstring and a dislocated hip the same day I squatted 700 lbs.

Not uncle sam wrote: but 100% are breaking 5 no problem. 75 second laps, childsplay for a pro.

Exactly. These guys are professional athletes. 100% could break 5 minutes no problem.

you're blowing smoke wrote:

ok, let's talk wrote:

Let's put down our bias towards track now and be realistic about the caliber of athlete we're talking about (4 years later) with NFL WR and DB's. Could they run a 4:30 mile?

To play that position in the NFL takes next level conditioning of all systems. I've read on average during a game, a WR or DB can run up to 6 miles, give or take depending on their opponent and the offense their in.

It takes no more than a little though to realize this claim is bogus. In a football game each team has significantly less than 100 offensive plays and WRs and DBs run much less than 100 yards on each play. 100 x 100 yards is less than 6 miles and players get nowhere near this total yardage.

Bogus indeed. In an average NFL game the ball is actually in play for only about 11 minutes or less; that's for both teams. Each platoon would only be on the field for about half of that, so we're supposed to believe that some of the skill positions are covering 6 miles in 5 minutes and change? Please.

joedirt wrote:

I ran with three guys in college that had brief stints in the NFL as receivers or defensive backs. They were phenomenal athletes (one was a 47.xx 400 meter runner that I ran on the relay with occasionally). Most NFL cornerbacks could hit the 4:30 mark with little specific training. Heck, a good percentage of NFL kickers could probably hit that time if you gave them 3 months. A 4:30 mile is nothing compared to the NFL.

47 second 400 =/= 4:30 mile, not to mention these guys are way too big due to NFL weights.

A 400 is a sprint, a long one but still a sprint. It means next to nothing for a mile.

My friend runs 60 for the 400 but is sub 4:30.

And the kickers? Smh

A number of guys I ran with in high school and college were recruited to play receiver at lower level college football programs but elected to run D1 track instead. Three were state record holders for their respective divisions in the 800 meter dash and one was an NCAA champ in the mile. All could easily run 4:20 miles in high school. If guys that are D2 type football players could do it, I am certain that a number of professional football players could do it. You probably need to focus on guys with a lean build that can fly (ie. Tyreek, Desean, etc.), but they are out there.

I'll throw another name out there as well: Chad Ochocinco. 6'1, 188#, played professional soccer. Daughter holds the 800 meter dash record for 12 year olds:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2721270-chad-johnsons-daughter-chaiel-sets-us-record-for-800m-in-age-group

A little training and he could break your precious 4:30 barrier.

Alex Viada wrote:

Think This One Through wrote:

Ted Ginn Jr. is a power packed, muscular 5-11, 180 pounder - that's too big to be running 4:30 miles. I see HS & college 5-11, 140 pounders run 4:30 miles not bigger football built dudes.

No true. I ran a 4:15 mile at 230 lbs in my mid-30s after just starting running in my 30s. Did it with a completely detached hamstring and a dislocated hip the same day I squatted 700 lbs.

Is this really you?

msb__ wrote:

joedirt wrote:

I ran with three guys in college that had brief stints in the NFL as receivers or defensive backs. They were phenomenal athletes (one was a 47.xx 400 meter runner that I ran on the relay with occasionally). Most NFL cornerbacks could hit the 4:30 mark with little specific training. Heck, a good percentage of NFL kickers could probably hit that time if you gave them 3 months. A 4:30 mile is nothing compared to the NFL.

47 second 400 =/= 4:30 mile, not to mention these guys are way too big due to NFL weights.

A 400 is a sprint, a long one but still a sprint. It means next to nothing for a mile.

My friend runs 60 for the 400 but is sub 4:30.

And the kickers? Smh

Four choices:

1) You do not have a sub-4:30 mile friend.

2) You may have a sub-4:30 mile friend, but his is not a 60.xx(+) 400m person.

3) Your 60(+) 400m friend is not a sub-4:30 miler.

4) Your friend is both sub-60 400m and sub-4:30 miler.