Derrick Henry: The Complete Guide to the NFL’s Most Dominant Running Back

You want to understand what makes one man bulldoze through entire NFL defenses, but scattered stats and outdated articles leave you guessing. Sorting through contract numbers, physical measurements, and career milestones takes hours you don’t have. This guide puts every verified fact about Derrick Henry in one place so you walk away with the full picture.

Who Is Derrick Henry? A Quick Profile

Derrick Henry is an American football running back who redefined physical dominance in the NFL. Born on January 4, 1994, in Yulee, Florida, he earned the nickname “King Henry” for his punishing running style.

He played college football at the University of Alabama before the Tennessee Titans selected him in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. In 2024, he inked a contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

His combination of size, speed, and power separates him from nearly every back who has played the game.

Derrick Henry Age and Early Life

So, how old is Derrick Henry? He was born on January 4, 1994, making his Derrick Henry age 31 years old as of 2025.

He grew up in Yulee, a small community near Jacksonville, Florida. His grandmother, Gladys, raised him and instilled the discipline that shaped his work ethic on and off the field.

Football became his outlet early. By middle school, coaches already noticed he hit harder and ran faster than kids three years older.

Derrick Henry High School Stats That Turned Heads

The Derrick Henry high school stats read like a video game glitch. At Yulee High School, he rushed for a staggering 12,124 career yards and scored 153 touchdowns.

His senior year alone produced 4,261 rushing yards and 55 touchdowns. Those numbers broke the national high school record previously held by Ken Hall since 1953.

Recruiting services ranked him as a five-star prospect. Every major college program in the country wanted him, and Alabama won the race.

Derrick Henry Height Weight and Physical Dominance

The Derrick Henry height weight combination is almost unfair for a running back. He stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs approximately 247 pounds.

Most NFL running backs weigh between 205 and 220 pounds. Henry carries an extra 25 to 40 pounds of muscle without sacrificing speed.

• Height: 6’3″
• Weight: 247 lbs
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.54 seconds (NFL Combine)
• Bench Press: 22 reps at 225 lbs
• Arm Length: 33 inches

That frame allows him to absorb contact that would flatten smaller backs and keep his legs churning for extra yards after contact.

The Derrick Henry Stiff Arm: Breaking Tackles for Fun

The Derrick Henry stiff arm has become one of the most recognizable moves in modern football. He extends his long arm, locks out defenders, and sends them to the turf.

What makes it so effective? Three factors work together:

• Reach: His 33-inch arms give him leverage before defenders get close enough to wrap up.
• Timing: He fires the stiff arm at the exact moment a defender commits to a tackle angle.
• Force: At 247 pounds moving at full speed, the impact feels like a car door opening into your chest.

His stiff arm of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback A.J. Bouye in the 2019 playoffs went viral and remains one of the most replayed highlights in NFL history.

Derrick Henry Contract Details and Earnings

The Derrick Henry contract history reflects his rise from a second-round pick to one of the highest-paid backs in the league.

In 2020, the Tennessee Titans signed him to a four-year, $50 million extension with $25.5 million guaranteed. That deal rewarded his 2,027-yard rushing season.

In March 2024, Henry signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens. The contract included $9 million guaranteed and performance incentives tied to rushing totals.

Derrick Henry College Career at Alabama

Henry arrived at the University of Alabama in 2013 and shared carries during his first two seasons behind T.J. Yeldon and Kenyan Drake.

His junior year in 2015 changed everything. He rushed for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns, leading the Crimson Tide to a national championship.

He won the Heisman Trophy, the Doak Walker Award, and the Maxwell Award that season. His 2,219 yards broke Herschel Walker’s SEC single-season rushing record.

Derrick Henry NFL Career Highlights and Records

Henry’s NFL résumé includes milestones that place him among the all-time greats at his position.

• 2019: Led the NFL in rushing with 1,540 yards and 16 touchdowns.
• 2020: Rushed for 2,027 yards, joining the exclusive 2,000-yard club. Only eight players in NFL history have reached that mark.
• 2020 Playoffs: Ran for 250 yards against the Buffalo Bills in a single postseason game.
• Career Rushing Yards: Over 10,000 yards across nine NFL seasons.
• Career Touchdowns: 90+ rushing touchdowns and counting.

Derrick Henry Stats by Season: A Complete Breakdown

The table below tracks his regular-season rushing production year by year.

Derrick Henry Injury History and Comebacks

Durability has been both a strength and a concern throughout his career.

In 2021, he suffered a Jones fracture in his right foot during Week 8. Doctors placed a screw in the bone, and he missed the remainder of the regular season. He returned for the playoffs but the Titans lost in the divisional round.

He bounced back in 2022 with 1,538 rushing yards, proving the injury did not diminish his explosiveness. His ability to recover and perform at an elite level speaks to his conditioning and mental toughness.

How Derrick Henry Changed the Running Back Position

The NFL shifted toward pass-heavy offenses over the past decade. Teams devalued running backs, shortened their contracts, and rotated committees of smaller, quicker players.

Henry proved that model wrong. His 2,000-yard season in 2020 showed that a feature back who dominates time of possession can carry an offense deep into the playoffs.

Teams now reconsider how they invest in the position. Henry’s success with the Ravens in 2024 reinforced the idea that a physical, every-down back still wins games in December and January when defenses tighten up.

Derrick Henry Off the Field: Charity and Community

His impact extends well beyond the hash marks. Henry founded the Henry Family Foundation, which supports underprivileged youth in his hometown of Yulee and in Nashville.

He regularly hosts football camps for kids, funds scholarship programs, and donates to disaster relief efforts. In 2020, he contributed $25,000 to tornado recovery in Middle Tennessee.

Teammates and coaches consistently describe him as one of the most humble and generous players in any locker room he enters.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Derrick Henry?

Derrick Henry is 31 years old. He was born on January 4, 1994, in Yulee, Florida.

What is Derrick Henry’s contract worth?

His current contract with the Baltimore Ravens is a two-year, $16 million deal signed in March 2024, with $9 million guaranteed.

What are Derrick Henry’s height and weight?

Derrick Henry stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 247 pounds, making him one of the largest running backs in NFL history.

What were Derrick Henry’s high school stats?

At Yulee High School, he rushed for 12,124 career yards and 153 touchdowns, setting the national high school record for career rushing yards.

What makes the Derrick Henry stiff arm so effective?

His 33-inch arm length, 247-pound frame, and precise timing allow him to lock out defenders before they complete a tackle, often sending them to the ground.

How many career rushing yards does Derrick Henry have?

He has surpassed 10,000 career rushing yards across nine NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens.

Your Next Step

You now have every key fact about one of the most physically gifted running backs to ever play professional football. Share this guide with a fellow fan who still debates whether the ground game matters in today’s NFL. Bookmark this page and check back as his career continues to grow — because King Henry is far from finished writing his story.