Well now, let me tell ya about this fella named Tim Brown. I reckon he’s one of them real famous football players, y’know, the kind folks still talk about long after they hang up their cleats. Born in 1966 down in Dallas, Texas, he sure made a name for himself in the NFL, especially with them Oakland Raiders—mighta been the best player they ever had, if ya ask me. But I ain’t here to talk about all his fancy moves, no sir. I’m here to tell ya about that 40-yard dash time of his, and let me tell ya, it’s somethin’ else!
Now, when folks start talkin’ about the 40-yard dash, it gets mighty serious. That’s the runnin’ race where every player’s speed gets measured, and it’s all timed and recorded. It’s like a big ol’ showdown at the NFL Combine, where all the young fellas come out and show off what they got. Tim Brown, now, he wasn’t no speed demon like some of these other boys, but don’t let that fool ya. He had some speed in ‘em, just maybe not the kinda speed that’d set records.
See, back in the day, Tim ran the 40-yard dash in 4.84 seconds against the wind, and 4.78 seconds with the wind. Now, I ain’t no expert, but I reckon that’s not too shabby for a fella playin’ at such a high level of competition. But it weren’t the fastest time, no. Not by a long shot. Some of these other lads, like Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson, they was runnin’ faster, but Tim, he was known more for his ability to make plays out on the field, not just for runnin’ a fast race. That’s somethin’ folks forget sometimes.
Tim Brown’s career wasn’t about how fast he could run in a straight line, it was about how well he could play the game. He had moves—real slick moves that made him one of the best wide receivers in the league. Ain’t nobody ever said Tim couldn’t play football; they just said he didn’t run the fastest. But boy, he sure could catch that ball and make a play happen. That’s somethin’ more important than runnin’ a fast 40-yard dash, if you ask me!
But let’s get back to that 40-yard dash, ‘cause that’s what folks are curious about. Some folks think the fastest 40-time in history was held by Tim Brown, but that ain’t exactly the case. No, sir. The record for the fastest 40-yard dash was set by some young fella named John Ross back in 2017. He ran it in 4.22 seconds. Now that’s fast! And not too long ago, another fella named Worthy set a new record in 2024 with a 4.21-second dash. That’s just a tick faster than Ross, but boy, that’s quicker than a jackrabbit on a hot day!
But even though Tim didn’t set the 40-yard dash record, he sure set a record in a lotta other ways. He played for a long time in the NFL—17 seasons, to be exact! And he ended up with over 1,000 receptions, which is a mighty big deal in the football world. You can’t do that without bein’ a smart player, even if you ain’t the fastest one out there. Tim was a smart one, alright. And he had heart. That counts for a lot more than just speed.
Now, I reckon it’s important to mention how the 40-yard dash time has changed over the years. Back when Tim ran his dash, they didn’t have them fancy digital timers they use now. They used stopwatches, and them things can be a little off sometimes. Nowadays, they got all sorts of technology to make sure the times are as accurate as can be. That means if Tim was runnin’ his 40-yard dash today, maybe his time would be just a smidge better. But who knows?
But even with that, the 40-yard dash time ain’t the end-all, be-all. There’s a lotta folks who run fast times and still don’t make it in the NFL. It takes more than speed to make it. It takes heart, grit, and the ability to make them big plays when it counts. Tim Brown had all that, and more. So, while he might not be known for his 40-yard dash time, he sure did leave his mark on the game.
All in all, I’d say Tim Brown’s 40-yard dash time ain’t the most important thing about his career. His ability to play the game, his leadership, and his consistency on the field—that’s what folks will remember. Speed’s important, sure, but it ain’t everything. And Tim Brown proved that. He didn’t need to be the fastest. He just needed to be the best, and I reckon he was.
Tags:[Tim Brown, 40-yard dash, NFL, football, fastest times, NFL Combine, wide receiver, John Ross, Worthy, speed, sports history, Oakland Raiders, NFL records, combine records]