Image via Chipermc / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Derrick Henry with the Tennessee Titans (file photo).
On Thursday night in Baltimore, Derrick Henry ran past his childhood hero. A five-yard carry in the second quarter took him past LaDainian Tomlinson on the NFL's all-time rushing list. A few minutes earlier, he had already gone past Jerome Bettis.
Henry grew up with a Tomlinson poster on his wall and a Tomlinson bobblehead on his shelf. Now he sits seventh on the list, with 13,707 career rushing yards. Next up is Curtis Martin, sixth all-time with 14,101 yards.
The Jaguars still won the game 33-10, and Henry only managed 57 yards on 17 carries on a wet night. But the record was the story. At 32, in his eleventh NFL season, Henry is still climbing a list full of Hall of Famers.
| NFL all-time rushing leaders | Career yards |
|---|---|
| 1. Emmitt Smith | 18,355 |
| 2. Walter Payton | 16,726 |
| 3. Frank Gore | 16,000 |
| 4. Barry Sanders | 15,269 |
| 5. Adrian Peterson | 14,918 |
| 6. Curtis Martin | 14,101 |
| 7. Derrick Henry | 13,707 |
| 8. LaDainian Tomlinson | 13,684 |
| 9. Jerome Bettis | 13,662 |
A small-town start
Henry was born on 4 January 1994 in Yulee, Florida, a small town near Jacksonville. His parents were teenagers when he was born, and he was raised largely by his grandmother, Gladys. He has often said she kept him on the right path.
At Yulee High School he became a legend. He ran for more than 12,000 yards in his high school career, a national record. College coaches all wanted him, and he picked Alabama.
At Alabama he waited his turn. In 2015, his junior year, he broke out. He ran for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns, won the Heisman Trophy and helped Alabama win the national championship. He was only the second Alabama player ever to win the Heisman.
The Titans years
The Tennessee Titans took him in the second round of the 2016 draft, 45th overall. For a while he shared carries, but by 2019 he was the main man. He led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns in both 2019 and 2020.
The 2020 season was his best. He ran for 2,027 yards, only the eighth player in NFL history to top 2,000 in a season, and won the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. He also ran for 17 touchdowns that year.
He stayed with the Titans through 2023, then hit free agency. In March 2024 he signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens. It was a fresh start, and it worked. He ran for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns in his first Ravens season. In May 2025 the Ravens gave him a two-year, $30 million extension, with $25 million guaranteed. That made him the highest-paid running back over 30 in NFL history.
Image via Chipermc / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Henry with the Titans in 2021 (file photo).
| Derrick Henry — Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Derrick Lamar Henry Jr. |
| Born | 4 January 1994, Yulee, Florida |
| Age | 32 |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 247 lb (112 kg) |
| Position | Running back |
| Team | Baltimore Ravens (2024–present) |
| College | University of Alabama (2013–2015) |
| Draft | 2nd round, 45th overall, 2016 (Titans) |
| Partner | Adrianna Rivas (together since 2016) |
| Children | Three daughters |
| Net worth | Estimated $12 million |
Still going at 32
Running backs are not meant to last this long. Most fade by 30. Henry is 32, leads the league in carries, and is still the player defences plan around first. Through Week 9 of the 2026 season he has 689 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
His 130 rushing touchdowns rank third in NFL history, behind only Emmitt Smith and LaDainian Tomlinson. He also has a stake in Nashville SC, the Major League Soccer club, and he has put money into real estate.
People call him "King Henry", and the name fits. He runs through tackles more than around them, and he has done it for a decade without slowing down much. The question now is how far up the list he can climb. Curtis Martin is 394 yards away. After that, Adrian Peterson sits fifth with 14,918 yards. Emmitt Smith's record of 18,355 is a long way off, and Henry would need three or four more good years to get near it.
Image via Chipermc / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Henry with the Titans in 2018 (file photo).
Family life
Henry has been with Adrianna Rivas since 2016, the year he was drafted. They are not married. They have three daughters together: Valentina Allure, born in May 2020, Celine Amor, born in April 2024, and a third daughter born in February 2026. He calls himself a "girl dad", and his daughters are often at M&T Bank Stadium on game days.
| Season | Team | Rushing yards | Rushing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Titans | 1,540 | 16 |
| 2020 | Titans | 2,027 | 17 |
| 2024 | Ravens | 1,921 | 16 |
| 2025 | Ravens | 1,595 | 16 |
| 2026 (through Week 9) | Ravens | 689 | 8 |
FAQs
How old is Derrick Henry?
He was born on 4 January 1994, so he is 32 years old. He turns 33 in January 2027.
How tall is Derrick Henry?
He is 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) tall and weighs 247 lb.
Is Derrick Henry married?
No. He has been with his long-time partner Adrianna Rivas since 2016. They have three daughters.
Where does Derrick Henry rank in all-time rushing yards?
Seventh, with 13,707 yards after the game against Jacksonville on 5 November 2026. Next is Curtis Martin with 14,101.
What is Derrick Henry's net worth?
It is estimated at around $12 million.
The Jaguars were heavy favourites on Thursday night against a Ravens side down to its third-choice quarterback, and the Ravens' slide started with the Week 8 loss to Buffalo. Monday night gave us another one-sided game too, as the Bears beat the Seahawks 34-17.
Read More: NFL Week 8 Sunday Results: Bills Rout Ravens as Lamar Jackson Heads to IR
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