Ja'Marr Chase has sped his way to the cusp of NFL history.
The 22-year-old Cincinnati Bengals rookie won the 2021 Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of The Year Award on Thursday at the NFL Honors. This Sunday, he has the chance to win a Super Bowl in the same year — a feat no rookie has achieved.
According to All-Pro Chad Ochocinco — the Bengals legend who presented Chase's award, and who currently holds all the Bengals receiving records that Chase will be looking to break next — he's well on his way there.
"Ja'Marr Chase doesn't have a ceiling. Ja'Marr Chase won the NFL rookie of the year award because he has done something that has never been done," Ochocinco told Insider. "He is probably the fastest receiver to ever don those stripes."
NFL stats suggest Ochocinco is right — Chase has been breaking speed records all season, including in the playoffs.
But Chase's early career success isn't down to speed alone. It's thanks to a unique blend of physical and mental qualities, and a tactical decision to skip college football to train instead.
Here's how he got to where he is today: