5 slowest 40-yard dash times in NFL history

Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy achieved a new NFL record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash time at the 2024 NFL Combine on Saturday, overtaking John Ross' record of 4.22 seconds, which Ross set in 2017.

Worthy clocked the new record on his second 40-yard dash attempt. His first 40-yard sprint came in at 4.25 seconds, the fifth-fastest in NFL history since 1999, the first year the combine implemented electronic timing.

On the flip side, the slowest 40-time at the 2024 combine was posted by Kentucky offensive tackle Jeremy Flax, at 5.64 seconds. The good news for Flax, his 40 is still faster than several other players' in the grand scheme of the NFL combine.

Below YouBet looks at the five slowest 40-yard dash times in NFL combine history.

1. Regis Crawford, 2004

40-yard dash time: 6.05 seconds

In 2004, Arizona State offensive lineman Regis Crawford made the wrong side of history with his official 40-yard dash time of 6.05 seconds. Weighing in at 316 pounds, the 6'2" right guard also completed the three-cone drill in 8.03 seconds and the 20-yard shuttle run in 4.86 seconds. He went undrafted that year and never played a snap in the NFL.

The fastest 40 time in 2004 was 4.31 seconds, recorded by future fourth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans, cornerback Michael Waddell. 

2. Isaiah Thompson, 2011 

40-yard dash time: 6.00 seconds

The only other player in NFL history to clock a six-plus-second 40-yard dash time is Isaiah Thompson, an offensive lineman from Houston. The 6'3" 300-pounder also went undrafted and held the distinction of shortest broad jump that year, at 82 inches, as well as the slowest three-cone drill time (9.04 seconds) and shuttle run (5.56 seconds.) His vertical jump came in at 25 inches, and he bench-pressed 23 reps at 225 pounds.

The fastest 40 time in 2011 was accomplished by Miami cornerback Demarcus Van Dyke, the 81st overall pick in the NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders.

3. Char-Ron Dorsey, 2001

40-yard dash time: 5.99 seconds

The third-slowest 40-yard dash time in NFL history belongs to Char-Ron Dorsey, an offensive tackle who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round with the 242nd overall pick.

In addition to his 5.99-second 40 time, Dorsey also put in 16 reps on the bench press but did not record official times for the vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill, or shuttle run.

Dorsey played just two seasons in Dallas before he signed with the Houston Texans in 2002, their first season as an NFL expansion team. He then spent his final season in the NFL in 2003 as a member of the New York Giants but was relegated to the PUP (physically unable to perform) list while recovering from offseason knee surgery and was waived from the team in August of 2003.

Former Pro Bowl wideout Santana Moss earned the fastest 40 time at the 2001 NFL Combine, just two one-hundredths of a second better than quarterback Michael Vick's 40-time.

4. Palauni Ma Sun, 2007

40-yard dash time: 5.86 seconds

In 2007, former Oregon offensive lineman Palauni Ma Sun clocked a then-slowest time of 5.86 seconds in the 40-yard dash and posted an 8.70-second three-cone drill, also last of all participating players at the combine. Undrafted that year, he eventually signed with Washington for one season in 2007, then found himself on the Boise Burn's arena football roster in 2009.

Ma Sun's 24.5-inch vertical jump was tied for the second shortest in 2007, as was his 91-inch broad jump.

The fastest 40 time in 2007 went to Kansas State wide receiver Yamon Figurs, who was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round with the 74th overall pick.

5. Tie — Jonathan Gray, 2000; Orlando Brown, 2018

40-yard dash time: 5.85 seconds

Undrafted Texas Tech offensive tackle Jonathan Gray posted a 5.85-second 40-time in 2000 along with the second-shortest vertical jump (23 inches) at that year's combine.

Tied with Gray for the fifth-slowest 40-yard dash time in NFL history is Oklahoma offensive tackle Orlando Brown, a 6'8", 345-pound lineman who was selected in the third round of the NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens.

Brown's 19.5-inch vertical jump was also the shortest at the 2018 combine, as was his 82-inch broad jump. His 5.38-second shuttle run was tied with Toby Weathersby for the slowest, at 5.38.

The fastest 40 time in 2018 ended in a three-way tie with Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward, a three-time Pro Bowler for the Cleveland Browns; Tulane cornerback Parry Nickerson, a sixth-round draft pick of the New York Jets; and LSU cornerback Donte Jackson, a second-round pick by the Carolina Panthers.