Former Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry was the central figure in the offense for most of Mike Vrabel’s tenure as head coach starting in 2018. Last season, Henry led the league with 280 rushing attempts, and he also topped this category in 2022 with 349 carries. In 2021, he averaged a league-high 27.375 carries per game before a season-ending injury. During his remarkable 2,000-yard rushing season in 2020, Henry had a career-high 378 carries.
In 2019, his first season as Tennessee’s primary running back, Henry led the league with 303 carries. If not for his 2021 injury, he would have led the league in carries for five consecutive years (2019-23). Except for an unusual 2020 season, the Titans consistently ranked near the bottom in passing attempts and first-down passing efficiency. Now with the Baltimore Ravens and two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, Henry is relieved to no longer be the focal point of the offense.
“It definitely brings a different aspect, because he [Jackson] is a dual-threat quarterback, and he’s dangerous with his legs just as he is with his arm,” Henry told The Athletic. “It’s going to be fun and a breath of fresh air not being the center of attention, knowing that eyes are going to be on him as well. But I’m just excited to get to work and put the work in out here and let it all come together,” Henry concluded.
This offseason, the Titans and Henry decided to part ways. Henry was seen as a poor fit for new head coach Brian Callahan’s pass-heavy offense, which will frequently use 11 personnel (three-receiver sets). Henry signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Ravens, while Titans general manager Ran Carthon replaced him with Tony Pollard on a three-year, $21.7 million deal. The similar annual salaries indicate that age and scheme fit were more significant factors than money in the Titans’ decision to let Henry go.
Henry will always be a legendary figure for the Titans, holding multiple franchise records. His departure from the team was amicable and well-timed. Now, he’s excited to play alongside a quarterback like Jackson, who will challenge defenses more than Tennessee ever did, which is entirely understandable.
