Former Lions running back Jahvid Best to compete as sprinter at Olympics

Former Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best will compete as a sprinter for the Saint Lucia Olympic track and field team.

Best, whose NFL career was cut short by repeated concussions, will become the first player with previous NFL experience to compete in the Summer Olympics.

“Above all else I’m excited to get out there and make my country and family proud,” Best said in a statement, via NBC Sports.

Best ran a 10.16 second 100m in April, just barely Olympic qualifying standard. Unless that time improves significantly, he won’t make much noise in Rio, but it will be cool all the same for Best to be able to attend as an athlete after his NFL career was ended so prematurely.

Best played just two seasons in the NFL, appearing in 22 games in 2010 and 2011 and picking up 945 yards and 6 touchdowns. A series of concussions knocked him out of the league at age 23.