It was a record-setting day at the 2017 NFL Combine, as receiver prospect John Ross ran a 4.22-second 40-yard dash. Ross, who was a standout at the University of Washington and is viewed by many as a first-round pick, broke the record of 4.24 seconds set by Cardinals running back Chris Johnson in 2008.
Plenty of people are overjoyed that Ross was able to break the Combine’s most famous record. Included in this list of people is Johnson, who sent out a few tweets right after Ross ran.
👀👀👀
— Chris Johnson (@ChrisJohnson28) March 4, 2017
He picking em up n putting em down boi
— Chris Johnson (@ChrisJohnson28) March 4, 2017
Once word came down that Ross officially set the record, Johnson offered his congratulations.
@watchjross congrats 💯💯💯💯
— Chris Johnson (@ChrisJohnson28) March 4, 2017
Other NFL players and coaches decided to get in on the fun as well.
https://twitter.com/FalconsDQ/status/838088540579823618
WAIT. @WatchJRoss RAN WHAT?????!! 😳😳😳😳😳😳🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 #NFLCombine
— Patrick Peterson /P2 (@P2) March 4, 2017
4.22 dammm that boy fast @WatchJRoss
— travisfeeney (@dawgs41feeney) March 4, 2017
Lighting speed My Lil bro Ran 4.22 _jross3 Easy Worc ' Eat Up Lil bro it's Go time 💯💯💰💰 https://t.co/xfECRLeBiQ
— Desean Jackson (@DeSeanJackson10) March 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/89SteveSmith/status/838083954301349888
😧😧😲😲@WatchJRoss
— Tavon Austin (@Tayaustin01) March 4, 2017
His time was so impressive that former Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew went as far as to say that Ross may be in his top-5 receivers in the entire league for his game-changing speed.
Welp!!!!! May need to change my top 5 WRs. 4.22 is a game changer 😳
— Maurice Jones-Drew (@MJD) March 4, 2017
One of his teammates from Washington decided to make a joke at Ross’ expense, while the top prospect in the 2017 NBA Draft (who also happens to be a Husky) shouted Ross out.
Everybody is talking about @WatchJRoss 40 but I'm just glad he figured out his hair situation. It was struggling for a while.
— Jake Browning (@jake_browning) March 4, 2017
Yessir bro @WatchJRoss
— Markelle Fultz (@MarkelleF) March 4, 2017
This wasn’t the only drill where Ross turned heads, by the way. While he had to stop competing at the Combine due to a cramp he sustained during his 40, he killed it in the broad jump, too.
.@UW_Football WR @WatchJRoss? ATHLETE.
11'1" in the broad jump! #NFLCombine https://t.co/jqfg8kVjCT
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2017
5 of the best 11 broad jumps by wide receivers at the combine since 2003 occurred today pic.twitter.com/e3UlyV2jpu
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) March 4, 2017
Ross has also been making some jokes about the 40-yard dash for a few days. A few days ago, he referenced the trailer to the hit movie Get Out when news dropped that breaking Johnson’s record could lead to winning an island.
https://twitter.com/WatchJRoss/status/836989640938782721
Then, after he set the record, Ross was asked why he chose Nike over adidas. He said no, then gave a hilarious reason.
"I can't really swim that well, and I don't have a boat." — John Ross on why he didn't wear Adidas, which would've won him an island.
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) March 4, 2017
Still, plenty of people made jokes regarding Ross losing out on an island, because it’s not every day that your choice in footwear costs you an island.
We now go live to John Ross: pic.twitter.com/Qg1cwMhkNc
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) March 4, 2017
John Ross: Yo Adidas I want my island, I ran a 4.22
Adidas: But you wore Nike
John Ross: pic.twitter.com/B6KsuoRdlc
— Chris 〽️ (@Chris301Tweets) March 4, 2017
Adidas after realizing John Ross ran a 4.22 in Nikes pic.twitter.com/I2lManeHJy
— Joel Robertson (@ImJoelRobertson) March 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/JohnCWilliams_/status/838090662629212160
https://twitter.com/DylansFreshTake/status/838099608786124800
It’s all good, though. While Ross doesn’t want an island, his 40 time definitely moved him up some draft boards today. That’s all you can really ask for at the Combine.
