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Cam Newton Says Noah Lyles Has Too Much to Lose After Backing Out of Tyreek Hill Race

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Taylor Hartman | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 8:02 PM ET

Cam Newton isn’t buying the idea that Noah Lyles backed out of his race with Tyreek Hill out of fear, but he does think the Olympic sprinter had a lot more on the line.

On a recent episode of his 4th & 1 podcast, Newton weighed in on the much-hyped showdown that never happened between the NFL’s fastest man and the reigning world champion in the 100 meters. The race was scheduled to take place in Times Square, but Lyles withdrew due to personal reasons.

Newton didn’t question Lyles’ decision, but he did point out the stakes weren’t exactly even. “This is Noah Lyles’ life,” Newton said. “Tyreek’s just doing this for fun.”

“This is Noah Lyles’ life...Tyreek’s just doing this for fun.”@CameronNewton draws the line between Olympic lanes and football clout pic.twitter.com/WM1S3lo25o
— 4th&1 with Cam Newton (@4thand1show) June 23, 2025

The former NFL MVP made it clear that while Hill’s 10.15-second 100-meter dash was impressive, it’s not in the same league as Lyles’ 9.79 personal best. “I mean, the math has to match,” Newton added. “You [Hill] got a 10.1, which was impressive. I can’t do that. But if you ask me, can he beat Noah? No. Especially when the numbers say that Noah ran 9.7.”

Newton’s point wasn’t just about speed, it was about risk. For Hill, a race is a fun offseason flex. For Lyles, it’s his profession, his reputation, and his legacy. Losing to a football player, even one as fast as Hill, could’ve undermined everything he’s built on the track.

The back-and-forth between Hill and Lyles has been brewing since last year, when Lyles questioned the “world champion” label used in American pro sports. Hill fired back, and the two have traded jabs ever since.

While fans were eager to see the race, Newton’s take adds some perspective. For Lyles, this wasn’t just a sprint; it was a potential career-defining moment. And in that light, stepping away might’ve been the smartest move of all.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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