Noah Lyles, the reigning 100m and 200m World Champion, has officially called off his much-anticipated sprint duel with NFL star Tyreek Hill, originally scheduled to take place this weekend in Times Square, New York.
In a statement, Lyles cited personal reasons and logistical complications as the cause for the cancellation of what was expected to be one of the most high-profile crossover events in recent track and field history.
“We were very deep into creating the event… In fact, it was supposed to happen this weekend,” said Lyles during a livestream. “Unfortunately, there were some things, complications, and personal reasons that it just didn’t come to pass.”
The showdown had been billed as a 50-meter sprint, pitting Olympic-level track speed against NFL explosiveness. It attracted massive interest after Hill — a former high school sprint star and current Miami Dolphins wide receiver — publicly challenged Lyles following his 9.79-second victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The rivalry gained momentum in February when Lyles held up a sign that read, “Tyreek Could Never”, after dominating the 60m indoor event — a moment that sparked viral debates across sports fandoms.
Although the Times Square race is now off the calendar, the buzz around the Lyles-Hill rivalry suggests the idea may not be dead entirely. Both athletes remain at the peak of their careers and a future clash, under more favorable timing, is still on the cards.
