Tyreek Hill mocks Patrick Mahomes for not being on the same level in the race they agreed on

The internet loves a good rivalry, especially when it’s between two of the NFL’s most electrifying stars. But this time, the contest wasn’t about touchdowns or Super Bowl rings—it was about pure, unfiltered speed. The stage was set for an epic showdown between Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, known as “The Cheetah,” and his former Kansas City Chiefs teammate, superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

It all started with some friendly banter during a podcast appearance in early June. Tyreek, never shy about his speed, joked, “Pat always talks about how he’s got wheels, but I told him—if he ever wants to lace up and race ‘The Cheetah,’ he’s welcome to try.” Mahomes laughed it off, but the internet ran with it, and soon #MahomesVsCheetah was trending on Twitter.

Mahomes, always a good sport, responded with a video from the Chiefs’ training facility: “I might not be the fastest in the league, but hey, Tyreek, you know I’m not scared to line up next to you. Let’s make it happen.” The challenge was on.

The Hype Builds

As June rolled into July, anticipation for the race reached fever pitch. Sports talk shows debated Mahomes’ chances (“He’s got sneaky speed!” insisted one analyst; “He’ll get smoked!” countered another), while fans on both sides argued in comment sections and on TikTok. Tyreek Hill, a master of social media, fanned the flames by posting daily workout clips—100-meter sprints, agility drills, even a tongue-in-cheek video of him racing a cheetah at the Miami Zoo.

The date was set: July 2nd, 5:00 PM ET, at a private track in Miami. Tyreek promised a live stream on Twitch, and Mahomes confirmed he’d be there. Even Travis Kelce chimed in, joking, “I got $100 on Pat… finishing the race.”

The Day Arrives

On the big day, Tyreek arrived early, decked out in custom “Cheetah” spikes and a Dolphins-branded headband. The sun beat down on the track, and a small crowd of local media, NFL players, and influencers gathered. Cameras were set, phones were out, and the Twitch chat was already exploding with anticipation.

But as the clock ticked past 5:00, there was no sign of Mahomes. Tyreek jogged a warmup lap, checking his phone and grinning for the cameras. At 5:10, he posted an Instagram story: a close-up of his watch, then a slow pan across the empty starting line. The caption read: “Still waiting… 👀”

By 5:20, it was clear Mahomes wasn’t coming. Tyreek, never one to waste a spotlight, went live on Twitch, standing alone on the track. “Yo, where’s Pat at?” he called out, feigning confusion. “I thought he wanted to race the Cheetah! Maybe he got lost on the way? Or maybe he realized he’s not built for this kind of speed.”

The chat erupted with laughing emojis and memes. Tyreek wasn’t done. He walked to the starting blocks, crouched into a sprinter’s stance, and shouted, “On your mark… get set… oh wait, there’s nobody here!” He took off anyway, sprinting the length of the track and finishing with a triumphant backflip.

The Mockery Escalates

Back in the locker room, Tyreek filmed another video, this time donning a curly wig and headband, imitating Mahomes’ signature look. “Hey y’all, it’s Pat Mahomes here, I’d race Tyreek but my legs are tired from throwing touchdowns all day!” He exaggerated a limp and pretended to call Andy Reid for permission to run.

On Twitter, Tyreek posted a photo of the empty track with the caption: “Can’t race what you can’t catch! @PatrickMahomes, maybe next time bring your running shoes… and a map.”

The memes came fast and furious. One showed Tyreek as the Road Runner, Mahomes as Wile E. Coyote. Another photoshopped Mahomes’ face onto a tortoise, Tyreek’s onto a hare. Even Chiefs fans had to laugh.

Mahomes Responds

Later that evening, Mahomes broke his silence with a tweet: “Sorry Cheetah, got stuck in a meeting with Coach. Next time I’ll bring my track spikes… and maybe a head start 😂🐆.” He included a photo of his cleats next to a pair of running shoes, tagged #RespectTheCheetah.

But Tyreek wasn’t letting up. He went live again, this time fielding questions from fans. “Look, Pat’s my guy, but let’s be real—he’s a quarterback, not a sprinter. I love him, but there’s levels to this. You can’t just show up and expect to keep up with the fastest man in football. Maybe next time we’ll race to see who can throw a football farther—he might actually have a shot at that.”

The Fallout

Sports media had a field day. ESPN’s “Get Up” ran a segment titled “Mahomes Ducks the Cheetah: Smart Move or Missed Opportunity?” Skip Bayless declared, “Mahomes just saved himself from total embarrassment. Tyreek Hill is a different breed.” Shannon Sharpe laughed, “Pat’s got heart, but his 40 time isn’t scaring anybody.”

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was asked about the race at a press conference. “I told Pat to stick to football. We need his legs healthy for the season, not for footraces with Tyreek,” he chuckled.

But not everyone was amused. Some fans accused Tyreek of bullying, while others said Mahomes was just being smart. “He’s got nothing to prove,” one fan tweeted. “Let Tyreek have his fun—Pat’s got two MVPs and three rings.”

The Aftermath

In the days that followed, Tyreek kept the jokes coming, but also made it clear there was no real beef. “All love to Pat,” he said on his podcast. “He’s a legend. But if he ever wants to race, the invitation’s always open.”

Mahomes, for his part, played along, posting a video of himself doing ladder drills with the caption, “Getting ready for Cheetah 2.0.”

The internet, as always, moved on to the next viral challenge. But for a few days, the football world was reminded that even the best athletes are fans of a little friendly trash talk—and that when it comes to speed, Tyreek Hill is in a league of his own.