Tyreek Hill is known for blowing past NFL defensive backs and finding open space for his quarterback – whether it has been Patrick Mahomes or Tua Tagovailoa.

Recently named the best player in the NFL by the NFL Network, Hill appeared to have his sights set on the “Fastest Man in the World.”

Noah Lyles won the 100-meter dash at the Paris Olympics for the first gold medal of his Olympic career. 

Hill, who was responding to comments Lyles made about NBA champions not being world champions, maintained he could beat Lyles in a sprint in an interview on “Up & Adams.”

“Noah Lyles can’t say nothing after what just happened to him,” Hill said. “Then he want to come out and pretend like he’s sick. I feel like that’s horseradish. For him to do that and say that, like we’re not world champions of our sport, let’s speak on what you know about and that’s track.”

Adams asked Hill if he wanted to race Lyles.

Tyreek Hill, #10 of the Miami Dolphins, warms up before an NFL wild-card playoff football game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 13, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Kara Durrette/Getty Images)

JETS’ AARON RODGERS EXPRESSES REGRET OVER ‘IMMUNIZED’ STATEMENT IN UPCOMING BIOGRAPHY

“I would beat Noah Lyles … I wouldn’t beat him by a lot but I would beat Noah Lyles. When I beat him, I’m going to put on a COVID mask and let him know I mean business.”

Hill then added two more posts to the fire.

“I like me in a race 2028 I’m running,” he wrote on X in addition to a photo of himself in a track uniform.

Gold medalist Noah Lyles of the United States reacts during the victory ceremony of the men’s 100m of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on Aug. 5, 2024. (Li Ying/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Lyles, who won a bronze medal in the 200 as he battled COVID, did not appear to respond to Hill’s challenge.

Hill ran a 10.19 in the 100 when he was in high school. Lyles’ time in the 100 at the Olympics was 9.79.

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Luke Schuermann often gets “the look” whenever he mentions his last football stop. It can be a quizzical expression or a blank stare based on the level of knowledge of the words just spoken.

Johns Hopkins? Wait, give me a second. Oh, you mean the school known for producing renowned journalists, doctors and scientists?

That’s right. That one. Among its most famous alumni are CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, former President Woodrow Wilson and film director Wes Craven.

Something the Baltimore-based private research institution is not known for is its football program. Its first team, in 1882, had to play as the Clifton Athletic Club because of the school’s contempt for the emerging sport. For its first 13 seasons, students served as coaches.

More than a century later, the Blue Jays are still playing in the shadows. They’re a plucky NCAA Division III operation that averages a few thousand fans for home games, its players doubling as promoters.

“I’ve had people be like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know they had a football team, you know, I just thought they had like a med school,’ ” Schuermann said with a chuckle.

Even as a three-time All-American, Schuermann never became a household name outside his own abode. Maybe that’s why UCLA is the transfer edge rusher’s new football home, the next stop on an improbable journey that Schuermann hopes can take him from Division III to the Big Ten to the NFL.

“He’s not like, if it happens, it happens,” said Jennifer Schuermann, Luke’s mother. “He’s going to do everything he can to try to make it happen.”

The NFL is already well-versed in this underdog story, every team having sent a scout to watch Luke play or practice while at Johns Hopkins, according to Dan Wodicka, the Blue Jays coach who was the defensive line coach and defensive coordinator when Luke played there.

Those scouts saw an edge rusher who more than looked the part at a stout 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds. He was faster than most of the team’s skill players in conditioning drills and a blur in the backfield, finishing his career as Johns Hopkins’ all-time leaders in tackles for loss (62.5) and sacks (34.5) despite playing only three seasons.

Like every quality edge rusher, Schuermann has a signature move — his involving the Gumby-like ability to bend his shoulder so that he can elude the offensive tackle on his way to the quarterback.

What makes Wodicka believe that Schuermann can thrive at a much higher level are the smarts and drive that helped him attain a 3.69 grade-point average as a mechanical engineering major while becoming a finalist for the Campbell Trophy — known as the “Academic Heisman” — that was awarded to Oregon’s Bo Nix.

Somehow, Schuermann also found time to serve as a de facto assistant coach.

“He’s the best I’ve ever coached in terms of the preparation he puts in,” Wodicka said. “He would be sending me game-planning notes late at night on a Tuesday as he’s seeing tendencies” of the other team.

Now he’s prepping to go after Big Ten quarterbacks following an assist from another Johns Hopkins success story. Chip Kelly, whose first full-time coaching job came as Johns Hopkins’ defensive coordinator in 1993, always kept tabs on his old team even as he rose to become a major college and NFL coach.

Schuermann’s big showing on the small stage caught Kelly’s interest and earned him a recruiting visit to UCLA, where coaches praised his relentlessness and told him and his father that he could help mentor younger players based on his own constant improvement.

Coach DeShaun Foster and his new staff kept the commitment to Schuermann even after Kelly departed to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, believing that the redshirt senior’s size and speed (he’s been clocked at 21.23 miles per hour at a dead sprint) could allow him to contribute for a team needing to replace its entire fleet of edge rushers.

“We got some size guys for defensive ends, we got some quick guys, and then I need a motor guy,” UCLA defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe said, referring to Schuermann with his last description. “So, as long as we can teach him the technique and he can unlearn some things because our [style of pass rush] is a little bit unorthodox, I think he’ll be a great addition.”

After one early preseason camp practice, Malloe commended Schuermann in front of the entire defense for his effort in sprinting to the other end of the field as part of a post-play conditioning drill that others sometimes completed with a half-hearted jog.

There remains a lot of ground to cover given that Schuermann was competing with the third string during a practice open to reporters last week. Acknowledging that the early transition has been “a little intimidating,” Schuermann said the challenge could fuel his growth.

“I’ve had good days and bad days,” he said, “but I’m trying not to focus too much on right now, at least, how well I’m doing and focus more on what can I improve on every single day.”

Those closest to Schuermann say he’s never been one to concede defeat. A straight-A student his whole life, Schuermann was frantic in middle school when a teacher gave him a C as part of a summer writing assignment.

“He worked on that like half the night to get the paper right,” Jennifer Schuermann said of revision efforts that proved worthwhile. By summer’s end, Luke won the award for most dedicated student.

He’s already risen from humble football beginnings. As a high school prospect from St. Louis, he was recruited mostly by Football Championship Subdivision schools and Iowa, which offered him a spot as a preferred walk-on. He chose Johns Hopkins because of its academic reputation and coaches who made him feel valued.

Similar thinking went into his decision to transfer to UCLA instead of accepting a spot as a walk-on at Missouri. Schuermann was drawn by the chance to complete a project management program through the extension school that will give him business savvy to complement his undergraduate degree.

There was also the opportunity to play for Malloe, who helped send a slew of players to the NFL when he coached at Washington before developing UCLA’s Laiatu Latu into a first-round pick last spring. If all goes well, Schuermann will join the list of 21 Division III players who have been drafted since 1990, even if his stopover in Westwood adds an asterisk.

Malloe recently asked Schuermann and the other defensive players to read the book “Chop Wood Carry Water,” which provides insight on the discipline it takes to accomplish something extraordinary. It might feel as if Schuermann is on the verge of writing his own epilogue.

“Everything that you’ve seen that he’s done in college at the D-III level,” Foster said, “he’s capable of doing here.”

After nearly three weeks and more than 1,000 medals, the Paris Olympics have awarded their final gold.

From the ambitious opening ceremony to the handoff to 2028 host Los Angeles, the Paris Games delivered numerous memorable moments. Acclaimed stars cemented their legacies and new faces became Olympic fixtures.

But some stellar performances and viral memes stood above the rest. To highlight and celebrate the best of the 2024 Games, a group of 20 staff members of The Athletic voted and compiled this list of our “Olympic Superlative” winners. (It should be noted this is not a definitive list — but a fun exercise.)

So with that, here’s who stayed winning in our eyes.

Most dominant performance

(Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)

Winner: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (five votes)

This category was for the athlete (or team) who put together the best, most undeniable Olympic campaign.

McLaughlin-Levrone, the American hurdler and sprinter, won gold in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, setting a world record at 50.37 seconds. On Saturday, she closed her Games with another gold in the women’s 4×400 relay, pulling away from the field in her leg, which was just a tenth of a second off the world record.

Runners-up: Simone Biles and Armand “Mondo” Duplantis (three votes each)

Biles, the American gymnast, won three gymnastics golds — team, all-around and vault — and one silver (floor exercise) in her Olympic return. Duplantis, a Swedish pole vaulter, won gold in the men’s event and set a new world record at 6.25 meters to break his previous record.

Also receiving votes:

• China’s diving team (two votes) — won all eight Olympic diving gold medals
• Léon Marchand (two votes) — the French swimmer won four golds and one bronze (more on him below)
• USA Basketball (two votes) — extended its gold medal streak to five (for men) and eight (for women)
• Katie Ledecky (one vote) — the American swimmer won two golds, a silver and a bronze in women’s swimming, and set an Olympic record in the 1,500-meter freestyle
• Mijain Lopez (one vote) — the Cuban wrestler won gold in men’s wrestling, a record-fifth straight Olympic gold in the same individual event
• South Korea’s archery team (one vote) — swept all five golds in archery (men’s and women’s)

Breakout star

(Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)

Winner: Léon Marchand (eight votes)

This category was for the athlete who most ascended into popular consciousness, the one we couldn’t stop talking about, and whose celebrity dramatically increased during these Olympics.

Marchand, the 22-year-old French swimming sensation, took the Paris Games by storm. He won four gold medals in a range of events — the 200 breaststroke, the 200 butterfly, the 200 individual medley and the 400 individual medley. Oh yeah, and he set an Olympic record in each. Marchand also took a bronze in the men’s 4×100 medley. He proved during his Paris campaign why he’s drawn comparisons to swimming legend Michael Phelps.

Runner-up: Stephen Nedoroscik (five votes)

Nedoroscik is an American gymnast. More specifically, he’s a pommel horse expert who became a household name after clinching the bronze for the U.S. men’s gymnastics team, their first team medal since 2008. Nedoroscik seemed to delight Americans with his nerdiness, and he also won a bronze in the — you guessed it — pommel horse event.

Also receiving votes:

• Summer McIntosh (four votes) — the Canadian swimmer won three golds (200 butterfly, 200 IM and 400 IM) and one silver (400 free), setting Olympic records in the 200 butterfly and 200 IM
• Ilona Maher (two votes) — the American women’s rugby sevens star helped the U.S. to its first Olympic medal, a bronze, in the event
• The Woodhalls (one vote) — Tara Davis-Woodhall won long jump gold for the U.S. and was cheered on by her Paralympian husband, Hunter

Best photo

(Photo: Jerome Brouillet / AFP via Getty Images)

Winner: Image of Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina (10 votes)

This category was for the image that most resonated with our voters and best captured the spirit of the Paris Games.

Photographer Jerome Brouillet captured a viral image of Medina celebrating after the surfer earned the highest single wave score in Olympic history in a heat during the men’s competition. Medina and his board look like they’re floating above the water as Medina holds his right arm in the air while making a No. 1 sign with his hand.

Runner-up: The Biles/Chiles bow (eight votes)

Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade celebrated her floor exercise gold medal with props from American gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, who bowed to Andrade while on the podium with their medals.

(Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)

Also receiving votes:

• American sprinter Noah Lyles wins the men’s 100-meter final in a photo finish (one vote)

• Tara Davis-Woodhall celebrates winning the women’s long jump final (one vote)

Best viral moment

(Photo: Yasin Akgul / AFP via Getty)

Winner: Yusuf Dikeç shooting (six votes)

This category was for the star of the Internet Olympics — with a plethora of shareable clips and meme-worthy moments up for consideration.

Dikeç — the Turkish shooter who won silver in a relaxed fashion — came out on top. His chill stance, with his pistol pointed in one hand and his other hand in his pocket, was emulated by various athletes across the Games. “I am a natural, a natural shooter,” he told Turkish newspaper Habertürk.

The celebration that keeps on giving 👀#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/KBX8WJBMKS

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 7, 2024

Runner-up: Pommel king (four votes)

Or, Stephen Nedoroscik whipping off his glasses and winning bronze:

Obsessed with this guy on the US men’s gymnastics team who’s only job is pommel horse, so he just sits there until he’s activated like a sleeper agent, whips off his glasses like Clark Kent and does a pommel horse routine that helps deliver the team its first medal in 16 years. pic.twitter.com/0D1ZqJjFa1

— Megan 📚 (@MegWritesBooks) July 29, 2024

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Also receiving votes:

• Appendage accident — when French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati’s crotch got in the way (three votes)
• Raygun’s breaking routine — the Australian breakdancer who confounded us all (three votes)
• Kim Yeji — the South Korean shooter who captivated the internet with her sci-fi swagger (three votes)
• Ireland’s Emily Lane and Erin King’s unbelievable catch in a rugby match against Great Britain (one vote)

Biggest upset

(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

Winner: Cole Hocker shocking the favorites in the men’s 1,500-meter to win gold (eight votes)

There’s nothing better than an underdog victory or a shock win. This category was for the athlete or team who best stunned the field and pulled off gold despite long odds.

The men’s 1,500 was expected to be a two-way battle between Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr, but Hocker outran Ingebrigtsen and outkicked Kerr to run off with the gold.

Runners-up: It was a three-way tie, with each receiving three votes:

Also receiving votes:

• Kristen Faulkner winning gold in the women’s cycling road race to end a 40-year American drought (two votes)
• Great Britain’s Toby Roberts’ climbing win in men’s boulder and lead final after the favorite, Japan’s Sorato Anraku, fell (one vote)

Biggest broadcast win

Winner: “GoldZone” (seven votes)

This category was for what most enhanced our at-home viewing experience.

The NBC/Peacock Olympic whip-around show, modeled after “NFL RedZone,” allowed viewers to simultaneously follow gold medal finishes across multiple events.

Runner-up: Snoop Dogg’s commentary

The rapper was a major part of NBC’s coverage of the Games, and good news for fans, it appears this might not be his last.

Also receiving votes:

• Laurie Hernandez talking gymnastics (four votes)
• Discovery Plus (one vote)
• English broadcaster Clare Balding paying an emotional tribute to Andy Murray after his final match at the Olympics (one vote)

Best venue

(Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)

Winner: Beach volleyball under the Eiffel Tower (14 votes)

Iconic landmarks and picturesque views defined the 2024 Games. Our voters liked the beach volleyball setting best.

Runner-up: Surfing in Tahiti (three votes)

Also receiving votes:

• Fencing at the Grand Palais (one vote)
• Cycling road race routes around Paris (one vote)

Best final farewell

(Photo: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images)

Winner: Simone Biles (10 votes)

It was the last or the potential last Games for many Olympic legends. Though some have not confirmed whether they’ll try to come back for Los Angeles, we voted on who among them had the best sendoff if they don’t return.

Biles is the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history and, at 27, she is the oldest all-around Olympic champion in more than 70 years. Even if she doesn’t return for L.A., which would mark her fourth Olympics, Biles is already considered the GOAT in the sport.

Runner-up: LeBron James (five votes)

Making his fourth Olympic appearance, James was named MVP of the tournament as the U.S. men’s team won its fifth straight Olympic gold. James, 39, is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time NBA champion. Now, he’s a three-time Olympic gold medalist, too.

Also receiving votes:

• Andy Murray — British tennis player in his fifth Olympics (four votes)
• Rafael Nadal — Spanish tennis player in his fourth Olympics (one vote)

Best feel-good story

(Photo: Richard Pelham / Getty Images)

Winner: Cindy Ngamba becoming the first-ever medalist for the Olympic refugee team (eight votes)

There was no shortage of controversy during the Paris Games, including concerns about the Seine’s water quality and a media firestorm in women’s boxing, but there were many positive moments as well. We voted on what most made our hearts melt.

Ngamba, who was born in Cameroon and lives in the United Kingdom, reached the semifinal of the women’s 75-kilogram (165 pounds) competition, which earned her a bronze medal.

Runner-up: Chinese gymnast Zhou Yaqin biting her medal on the podium after noticing the Italian gymnasts doing it (five votes)

Also receiving votes:

(Photos of Léon Marchand, Simone Biles and Cindy Ngamba by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images; Tom Weller/VOIGT/GettyImages; Richard Pelham/Getty Images)