Two of the fastest athletes in the United States continued to publicly bicker when Noah Lyles pushed back against Tyreek Hill.
Earlier this week, Hill accused Lyles of faking an illness during the 2024 Summer Olympics. Lyles, who previously won gold in the men’s 100-meter, revealed that he was diagnosed with COVID-19 after earning bronze in his signature 200-meter event.
The Miami Dolphins wide receiver called it “horse radish” for Lyles to mock NBA and NFL champions who consider themselves world champions after winning a league based in one country. Hill, a former track star in high school and college, also claimed he could beat the track star in a race.
“For him to do that and say that we’re not world champions of our sport, like come on brother,” Hill told Kay Adams at Monday’s training camp. “Just speak on what you know about.”
Lyles hardly seemed threatened by Hill’s provocation. In an NBC Sports video, the 27-year-old couldn’t remember the name of “that cheetah guy from football” before asking someone off-camera for the name of “the football player who thinks he’s fast.”
Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson confronted Lyles about those comments on their Nightcap podcast streamed Saturday night. Lyles recalled Hill’s name this time before challenging him to make good on his boisterous claims.
“Tyreek is just chasing clout,” Lyles said (h/t Pro Football Talk). “The man — anytime somebody fast comes up, he says he wants to race them. If he really wanted to race people, he would’ve showed up, like DK Metcalf.”
Lyles said Hill “dodges smoke,” but he’d accept the challenge if the All-Pro wideout actually wants to go toe-to-toe in a 60- or 100-meter dash.
“We can race,” Lyles said. “If he’s serious about it, if he’s truly serious about it — I’m not talking about you just talking on the Internet and you ain’t actually coming to me and talking to my agent and saying, ‘Let’s set something up.’ If you are seriously about it, you’ll see me on the track.”
Related: Tyreek Hill Has Blunt Message For Noah Lyles After Summer Olympics