Kevin Hart pokes fun at himself from wheelchair after race

Kevin Hart Sipa Press

Kevin Hart pokes fun at himself from wheelchair after racing ex-NFL RB

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Aug 24, 2023 7:00 PM ET

Kevin Hart has built a career out of making people laugh, but now he has no choice but to laugh at himself.

In a video posted to his Instagram account on Wednesday, the 44-year-old comedian admitted that he’s (temporarily) confined to a wheelchair after a failed attempt to race former New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley.

“The age of 40 is real,” Hart said. “It’s not a game; respect that age or the age will make you respect it. …I’m in a wheelchair. Why? Because I tried to go out there and do some young stuff. …We go out there and run the 40-yard dash. Guys, I blew all my [expletive]. Tore my lower abdomen, my abductors — I don’t even know what that is — but I tore them too.”

The full video is below. (Warning: Video contains profanity.)

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A post shared by Kevin Hart (@kevinhart4real)

While Ridley, who won a Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2015, was by no means known as a speed back in the NFL, trying to race him was not a smart move on Hart’s part. Ridley, who's 34 now, was clocked at 4.65 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in 2011.

During his eight-year NFL career that included stints with the Patriots, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers, Ridley rushed for 3,102 yards and 24 touchdowns.

The former third-round pick issued an apology to Hart on Thursday morning via his Instagram story.

“I saw Tom Brady do it at your age, so I figured you had the juice too big bro,” he wrote. “My bad [Kevin Hart]. Heal up and keep making us all laugh.”

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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