Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry is having an impressive first season with the team, raising the question of whether he can break the NFL’s single-season rushing record. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson expressed confidence in Henry’s ability to achieve this feat, stating he believes Henry has a great chance of surpassing the record. Henry is currently averaging 124.7 rushing yards per game, the best in the league, thanks to his powerful running style, stiff arms, and explosive plays.
Henry is on pace to rush for 2,120 yards this season, which would break Eric Dickerson’s 40-year-old record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. However, Henry remains focused on his performance rather than the record itself, emphasizing that he is concentrating on improving week by week and contributing to the team’s goals. Despite his achievements so far, Henry downplays individual statistics, preferring to focus on helping the Ravens succeed.
Through seven games, Henry has accumulated 873 rushing yards, the most since DeMarco Murray in 2014, who finished that season with 1,845 yards. If Henry continues on this trajectory, he will have to face tough competition, with eight of his remaining 10 games being against top-15 run defenses, including the Cleveland Browns. Nevertheless, Henry has shown he can outperform expectations, as his current yardage is one of the best starts for a player 30 years or older in NFL history, second only to Walter Payton.
Henry’s age, 30, did not deter him when teams hesitated to sign him during free agency, and he is committed to performing his best for the Ravens. Having previously rushed for 2,027 yards in 2020, Henry came just 94 yards short of breaking Dickerson’s record. If he reaches the milestone this season, he will make history as the first NFL player to achieve two 2,000-yard rushing seasons.
At 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, Henry is a formidable opponent for defenders. In a lighthearted moment, NBA player Anthony Edwards claimed he could tackle Henry if he played free safety. Henry responded playfully, acknowledging Edwards’ imagination and jokingly suggested setting up a training camp where basketball players could try playing football. Despite the challenges ahead, Henry’s focus remains on helping the Ravens win each week.
