Honestly, it feels like Derrick Henry has been a fixture in the backfield forever. You've probably seen the highlights of him tossing defenders like ragdolls, but if you’re trying to keep track of every jersey he’s worn, the list is actually shorter than his legendary 99-yard touchdown run.
Basically, the answer to what teams has derrick henry played for comes down to two main stops in the NFL: the Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens.
But that’s just the surface level. If you really want to understand the "King Henry" era, you’ve got to look at how he went from a second-round pick sitting on the bench in Nashville to becoming a franchise-altering force in Baltimore. It wasn't always a straight line to the Hall of Fame.
The Tennessee Titans (2016–2023): Where the King Was Crowned
Derrick Henry spent eight long seasons in Tennessee. Most people forget that he wasn't "The Guy" immediately. When the Titans took him 45th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Alabama, they already had DeMarco Murray.
Henry spent 2016 and 2017 mostly as a backup or a change-of-pace guy. It was sort of frustrating for fans to watch. You had this 6-foot-3, 250-pound monster, and he was getting 10 carries a game. Kinda wild looking back, right?
The switch flipped in late 2018. That Thursday night game against the Jaguars—the one with the 99-yard stiff-arm marathon—changed everything. From that moment on, the Titans offense was "feed 22 until the defense breaks."
- 2019: He led the league in rushing for the first time with 1,540 yards.
- 2020: The legendary 2,000-yard season. He hit 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns, winning Offensive Player of the Year.
- 2021-2023: Even with a foot injury in '21, he stayed dominant. By the time he left Nashville, he was the face of the franchise.
Leaving the Titans was emotional. He actually grabbed the mic after his final home game in 2023 and thanked the fans. It felt like the end of an era because, well, it was.
The Baltimore Ravens (2024–Present): A New Reign
In March 2024, the football world collectively gasped when Henry signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Putting him in the same backfield as Lamar Jackson seemed unfair. Like a video game cheat code.
He initially signed a two-year, $16 million deal. He didn't just "fit in" with Baltimore; he exploded. In his first season (2024), he put up nearly 2,000 yards again—1,921 to be exact—and tied for the league lead with 16 rushing touchdowns.
The Ravens realized quickly that they had something special. On May 14, 2025, they doubled down. They signed Henry to a massive two-year extension worth $30 million, with $25 million guaranteed. For a running back over 30 years old, that kind of money is unheard of. It’s actually the richest deal in NFL history for a back of that age.
He’s currently under contract through the 2027 season. He’s already expressed that he wants to "retire a Raven," which shows just how much he’s embraced the purple and black.
Before the Pros: The Alabama and Yulee Years
You can't talk about what teams has derrick henry played for without mentioning where the "King" nickname actually started.
At the University of Alabama (2013–2015), he was a human wrecking ball. His 2015 season is one for the history books: 2,219 rushing yards, 28 touchdowns, and a Heisman Trophy. He broke Herschel Walker’s SEC single-season record. It was basically a three-year commercial for why he belonged in the NFL.
And if you want to go way back? Yulee High School in Florida. That’s where he set the national high school career rushing record with 12,124 yards. Imagine being a 160-pound high school linebacker trying to tackle a teenage Derrick Henry. No thanks.
Summary of the Journey
If you need a quick cheat sheet for the resume, here it is:
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- Yulee High School Hornets (The record-breaking start)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (The Heisman years)
- Tennessee Titans (2016–2023: The 2K season and 8 years of dominance)
- Baltimore Ravens (2024–Present: The late-career surge and record extensions)
What This Means for You
Watching Derrick Henry's career path tells us a lot about longevity in a brutal sport. Most running backs hit a wall at 28. Henry, at 32 (as of early 2026), just signed the biggest "old man" contract in history.
Key Takeaways:
- Context matters: He wasn't a star until his third year in the NFL. Patience paid off for the Titans.
- Scheme matters: His fit with the Ravens' RPO-heavy offense with Lamar Jackson created his most efficient season ever at age 30.
- Durability is a skill: Henry’s "freakish" work ethic, as Ravens GM Eric DeCosta put it, is why he’s still getting $15 million a year while his peers are retiring.
If you're tracking his stats for fantasy or just curious about his legacy, keep an eye on his production through 2027. He’s currently chasing major milestones in rushing yards and touchdowns that could cement him as a top-five back of all time.
Check the Ravens' injury reports or the official NFL standings to see how his current season is progressing, especially as he looks toward a potential Super Bowl run with Baltimore.