Jahvid Best
A blazing-fast athlete who traded NFL end zones for an Olympic track, defining resilience after a career cut short.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American football player and coach·Birthday: January 30·Millennials
Biography
Jahvid Best's career is a story of breathtaking speed and brutal physics. At the University of California, Berkeley, he was a human highlight reel, a running back whose explosive acceleration left defenders grasping at air. His collegiate peak, however, was marred by a terrifying, airborne fall into the end zone that resulted in a severe concussion, a haunting preview of the injuries that would shape his path. Drafted in the first round by the Detroit Lions, his electrifying play was intermittently sidelined by the very concussions that promised to end his career. Forced to retire from football at just 24, Best refused to let his narrative end there. He channeled his elite speed into track, a sport he had starred in during high school. In a stunning second act, he qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics, representing Saint Lucia in the 100 meters, trading a helmet for a singlet and completing a journey few athletes have ever attempted.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jahvid was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jahvid Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Jahvid's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Set a California Golden Bears single-game rushing record with 311 yards against Washington in 2008.
- Led the Pac-10 Conference in rushing yards (1,580) during the 2008 college football season.
- Competed in the men's 100 meters at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro for Saint Lucia.
- Named a first-team All-American as a college running back in 2008.
Did You Know?
He holds dual citizenship with the United States and Saint Lucia, through his father.
His Olympic qualification time in the 100m (10.16 seconds) was set at a meet in El Salvador.
After retiring, he became the head football coach at his alma mater, St. Mary's College High School in Berkeley.
He was a state champion in the 100 meters and 200 meters while in high school in California.
“You can't run scared; you have to attack the game.”
