Tyreek Hill, known throughout the NFL as “The Cheetah” for his blistering speed, is currently navigating a different kind of race: a year-long recovery from a devastating leg injury. The former Miami Dolphins receiver, now a free agent at 32, recently offered a candid update on his rehabilitation, revealing the profound impact of an injury that sidelined him for nearly a full season.

Hill’s ordeal began in September 2025, during a 27-21 victory over the New York Jets. A tackle from Jets defensive back Malachi Moore resulted in a severe knee injury to Hill’s left leg, involving a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments, including his ACL. The injury abruptly ended his season after just four games, forcing him into a lengthy and challenging recovery process.

As reported by SPORTbible, Hill recently provided an update on his condition on Instagram, detailing the arduous road back. “So it’s about 10 months after doing two surgeries. My left leg is the one that I injured. I have no power in my left leg at all, so I’m trying to regain all the power back in my left leg. But it’s one day at a time. I ain’t going to tell you what my timeline is, but [the] timeline [is] looking real good right now, man.”

Hill has also been sharing videos of his training sessions online, offering fans glimpses into his determined efforts to regain full strength and potentially return to the NFL.

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When “The Cheetah” challenged the fastest man alive

Before his current battle with injury, Hill made headlines for a different kind of challenge, one that pitted his NFL speed against the legendary pace of Usain Bolt. Near the start of the decade, “The Cheetah” repeatedly and playfully challenged the eight-time Olympic gold medalist to a race, specifically a 40-yard dash, confident in his ability to outrun the sprinting icon over the shorter distance.

In July 2021, Hill famously declared to reporters, “Usain Bolt got out of the game for a reason, right? He’s old, he’s washed up, and he can’t see me in 40 yards. Hundred-yard dash, yes, that’s what he [does]. But a 40-yard dash, according to this Usain Bolt, you cannot see me.”

The banter set the stage for a hypothetical showdown that captivated sports fans, with both athletes boasting impressive speed metrics:

• Tyreek Hill’s personal best 40-yard dash: 4.29 seconds

• Tyreek Hill’s true 100-metre best: 10.19 seconds (with a wind-assisted high school time of 9.98 seconds)

• Usain Bolt’s 100-metre world record: 9.58 seconds (set at the 2009 World Athletics Championships)

• Usain Bolt’s claimed 40-yard dash: 4.22 seconds (at age 35, a time that has since been disputed)

Bolt, for his part, acknowledged Hill’s challenge, discussing it on The Dan Patrick Show in August 2021. “I still don’t think he can take me in 40 metres,” Bolt stated, adding a playful warning, “I don’t think he’s going to go for that. I said it to him. I texted him, ‘You keep talking. I might just show up.'”

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Despite the public back-and-forth, the highly anticipated race between the NFL’s speed demon and the world’s fastest man never materialized.

Now, as Hill works tirelessly to regain the explosive power in his left leg, the memory of those challenges serves as a stark reminder of the physical prowess that defined his career. His focus remains squarely on rehabilitation, aiming to return to the field and once again showcase the speed that earned him his iconic nickname.

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