At 31 years old, Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry turned in one of the best rushing performances ever. Henry’s 1,921 rushing yards in 2024 were the 11th most in NFL history and the most by a running back who was 30 years old or more since Tiki Barber rushed for 1,860 yards in 2005.
Henry joined the Ravens and instantly added balance to the offense. Henry’s five carries of 40 yards or more were second in the league last year. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley led the league with seven.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta and the front office rewarded Henry for his successful season with a new deal one year after signing a two-year, $16 million deal in 2024. Henry’s extension is worth $30 million over two more seasons.
“I’m just very grateful for this organization. Just like last year, coming off the season I had [in Tennessee], I wasn’t really happy, and I wanted to prove myself and just get an opportunity, and they gave me the opportunity,” Henry said. “I’m very appreciative of how much they value me, to give me an extension, and I just want to show them how much it means to me, how much this organization means to me by the way I work and what I do on the field.”
After spending eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Henry said the Ravens were a whole new experience. But it didn’t take long before he fell in love with the brotherhood and work ethic that permeates throughout the Ravens’ facility. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is part of that brotherhood and played a huge factor in Henry’s decision to come to Baltimore.
“Being able to play alongside a player like Lamar [Jackson], the best player in the league, it was just dynamic and a lot of fun,” Henry said. “Lamar is just so dynamic. You have to account for him every single play, and eyes are going to be on him, just by the player he is with his arm and with his legs.”
Running backs coach/assistant head coach Willie Taggert mentioned how Henry is still getting stronger this late in his career. Last season was the second-highest rushing total over Henry’s career. His 5.9 yards per carry were a career high. Taggart takes pride in Henry’s approach.
“[Derrick Henry] fits our identity as an organization, and I think he fits Baltimore as a city and what the city stands for,” Taggart said. “When you watch him play, and you watch the Ravens play … When you always watched the Ravens play, it was always dominating and physical, and when you watch Derrick run, it’s dominating and physical. You think about our city; we’re dominating and physical, so I think he just fit everything about Baltimore and the Ravens organization.”
True to form, Henry arrived at the facility to get an early workout in on Monday. That’s after flight issues delayed his arrival to Baltimore that morning, causing him to get home around 4:45 am. Henry didn’t go to sleep and got to the facility at 6 am. It’s just the way Henry is wired and it’s what caused him to get back to work much earlier than most players.
“I think I waited like a week after we played Buffalo, and my mind was going crazy,” Henry said. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to go work out,’ so I just came back here and started working out. I couldn’t wait anymore. I couldn’t hold off.”