Inside The Huskies

John Ross' 4.22 Combine 40 Remains Intact After 7 Years

The former University of Washington receiver still is the fastest to run through Indianapolis.

Dan Raley

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John Ross finally slowed down and retired from football seven months ago. Told the Kansas City Chiefs he was done with the game. Passed on a Super Bowl victory that would happen without him.

Yet as another NFL Scouting Combine takes place this week bringing pro football hopefuls together in the Midwest, Ross' name invariably will come up as it always does.

He remains the fastest man to ever run through Indianapolis.

Seven years ago, the former University of Washington wide receiver and kick returner posted a sizzling 4.22-second time in the 40-yard dash — still tops in combine history.

Ross was coming off a College Football Playoff appearance with the Huskies against Alabama, after playing for a star-studded team put together by Chris Petersen.

Everyone knew he was fast coming in, but not quite this fast. Two years earlier, Ross had torn an anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees in spring football practice, costing him the 2015 season, but apparently he had lost none of his speed, maybe gained some. 

Ross was participating at the combine that day with an injured shoulder from the regular season that had been aggravated in the postseason game. Still he ran, putting off the surgery, ignoring all excuses.

In 2017, the California native got in a one-hand stance, effortlessly took off down the runway and gradually became more upright as he sprinted to the finish line. He was limping when it was over, having pulled a calf muscle.

His time left people incredulous. No one expected the numbers that flashed on a screen.

"Four, two, two — no way," broadcaster Rich Eisen said on the air. 

Interviewed later by Michael Irvin, the legendary Dallas Cowboys receiver, Ross presented a humble front in sizing up his accomplishment: "I'm just thankful beyond measure, blessed and happy to be in this situation. Remember two years ago, I was sitting on a couch for a whole season."

After his blazing display of speed, Ross was drafted as the ninth overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals. He would spend five seasons in the NFL, catching 62 passes for 957 yards and  11 touchdowns, before all of his nagging injuries finally caught up to him and forced him into retirement.

Seven years later, Ross remains a very fast human being in the minds of everyone who comes to Indianapolis, the fastest ever.

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Dan Raley
DAN RALEY

Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, the latter as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades and he's covered University of Washington football and basketball during much of that time. In a working capacity, he's been to the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and countless Final Fours and bowl games.

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