Nike Athlete Breaks NFL Combine 40-Yard Dash Record

The same year Adidas promised an island to the NFL prospect that beat the record in Adizero 5-Star 40 cleats, Nike’s John Ross did it in Combine-exclusive Vapor 4.2s.

Writer: Carly Terwilliger

Former Washington wide receiver John Ross broke the NFL Combine’s 40-yard dash record this year by running it in 4.22 seconds, improving on Chris Johnson’s 4.24 time from 2008. An impressive feat on its own, Ross’s record-breaking performance made even more noise because of the shoes he wore to do it – hint: they weren’t island-winning Adidas ones.

Let’s back up.

As reported on February 27, Adidas Football offered the opportunity to win an island to the pro prospect in Indianapolis who broke professional football’s recognized 40-yard dash record – the one held by Johnson.

The catch? The offer was open to any pro prospect who specifically dashed in the 2017 Adizero 5-Star 40 cleats, and Ross recently signed with Nike and was wearing the swoosh’s Combine-exclusive Vapor 4.2 cleats during his run.

“Well I can’t swim that well,” Ross joked, according to NBC Sports’ Josh Norris. “And I don’t have a boat.”

Lead photo courtesy Nike