No Quarterback Has Been Verified to Throw 100 Yards
As an avid fan of football video games myself, I‘ve always wondered — can a quarterback really throw the ball 100 yards as we unleash these wild plays in Madden? Time to analyze the possibilities and status of the legendary 100-yard hurl.
No Quarterback Has Thrown 100 Yards…Yet
While a holy grail achievement in football, no quarterback has officially recorded a throw traveling 100 yards in air distance. But that doesn‘t mean athletes aren‘t actively training towards this milestone.
In specialized skills competitions like the NFL Quarterback Challenge, players test the extremes of both accuracy and distance throwing. Let‘s breakdown the current records and training methodologies pushing quarterback strength to the limits.
Farthest Official Throw: Randall Cunningham‘s 76 Yards
Back in 1993 during the NFL Quarterback Challenge, Randall Cunningham shocked onlookers by throwing an estimated 76 yards in distance. Factoring in his throwing motion, arm torque, and the ball‘s flight, analysts confirmed this as the new record [1].
Over 20 years later, Cunningham‘s epic hurl remains the official farthest throw by an NFL quarterback.
How Quarterbacks Train for Distance
When quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Aaron Rodgers claim they can throw 100+ yards, they are likely basing this on intense workout regimes to build cannon-like arm strength [2]:
- Resistance band training to overload muscles
- Towel pull-throughs to maximize rotator cuff force
- Medicine ball chest passes over 10-15 yards
- Throwing weighted footballs to increase arm speed, power
By combining strength training with specialized throwing practice, quarterbacks can achieve unprecedented velocity and distance on their passes.
The Physics of Distance Throwing
Sports physicists have analyzed the biomechanics and equations behind maximizing throwing distance [3]:
Key Factors:
- Launch Speed
- Launch Angle
- Arm Length
- Rotational Power
- Air Drag
Based on these scientific principles, the hypothetical 100-yard pass would require:
Throwing Speed: Over 60-70 mph
Launch Angle: Between 42-45 degrees
Minimized Air Resistance
With advancements in training, nutrition, and recovery, future quarterbacks may yet achieve the coveted 100-yard strike. Mahomes and Allen could be leading the charge.
Analyzing the Claims of 100+ Yard Throws
Despite no quarterback officially hitting the 100-yard mark yet, many boast confidence they have the capability under specialized conditions. Let‘s analyze the evidence and probability behind some bold claims of 100+ yard tosses:
Josh Allen‘s Training Quest
Coming out of the 2018 NFL Draft, analysts were awed by Josh Allen‘s arm strength, with some Bills coaches claiming he could throw over 100 yards in distance [4].
While unofficial, Allen‘s role as Buffalo‘s franchise quarterback has motivated further refinement of his cannon. He adopted an intense multi-phase workout plan focused on shoulder stability, elasticity, synchronized torso rotation, and resistance training for higher velocity throws [5].
As a result, Allen‘s passes now rival MVP Patrick Mahomes in speed and explosiveness. During games, Allen has uncorked 69+ yard bombs to receivers like Gabriel Davis and Stefon Diggs. More evidence he‘s striving towards the elusive 100-yard barrier [6].
Mahomes Boasts About Thin Air Advantage
When Kansas City faced division rivals the Los Angeles Chargers in Mexico City back in 2019, reporters asked Patrick Mahomes about adjusting to the venue’s high altitude.
Mahomes boosted confidence that he could throw 100 yards there, claiming "the ball goes places I‘ve never seen" [7].
Does physics back this up? At 7,200 feet above sea level, Mexico City‘s thin air does reduce air resistance and allow further distance—by around 5 yards more compared to sea level.
Sports scientists estimate Mahomes could achieve over 80 yards given his natural arm talent and the environment [8]. While shy of 100 yards, the possibilities motivated him to speak out on this potential record.
| Quarterback Claims of 100+ Yards | Estimated Actual Distance |
|---|---|
| Josh Allen | 80-85 yards |
| Patrick Mahomes | 80-85 yards |
The Final Frontier: Training and Conditions Needed
While no quarterback has yet to provide video evidence of a 100-yard pass, it appears more athletes are actively pursuing this distance thanks to specialized strength programs, recovery methods, and technology measurements.
Here‘s a quick rundown of training and environmental criteria needed for quarterbacks seeking to make history [9]:
- Year-Round Resistance Band Strength Training: Overload shoulder muscles weekly to increase power
- Weighted Ball Throws: 2x per week, throw in specific angle patterns
- High Altitude Venues: Train and test passes in Mexico City, Denver or Cincinatti
- Accuracy Milestones: Master 60, 70, 80 yard on-target throws before pursuing 100
It will likely require both innate talent and dedicated training to push human throwing limits into triple-digits. But records are made to be broken with the right preparation.
Which quarterback will be the first to provide video proof of this mythic achievement? I‘ll be on the edge of my seat watching every long bomb, waiting to find out!
Sources:
[1] SI.com
[2] SB Nation
[3] Wired
[4] Buffalo News
[5] Buffalo Rumblings
[6] NFL.com
[7] Bleacher Report
[8] Reddit r/nfl
[9] My own expert analysis 🙂
