Honestly, people thought the wheels were gonna fall off. When the news broke that the Baltimore Ravens were signing a 30-year-old Derrick Henry, the skeptics came out in droves. They said he had too much "tread on the tires." They pointed at his 2,000 career carries like it was a ticking time bomb.
They were wrong.
Actually, they weren't just wrong—they were spectacularly off-base. Seeing a 247-pound man move with the grace of a sprinter while wearing purple and black feels like watching a glitch in the Matrix.
The Numbers Are Actually Sorta Ridiculous
Let’s look at the cold, hard facts from the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Most running backs start looking for a TV gig at 31. Not this guy. In 2024, Ravens running back Henry didn't just play; he dominated, racking up a massive 1,921 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. He followed that up in 2025 with another 1,595 yards.
He’s basically a walking first down.
- He passed Jim Brown on the all-time list.
- He secured his seventh 200-yard rushing game, an NFL record.
- He’s now sitting at 10th all-time in career rushing yards with 13,018.
Most players decline. Henry just seems to get heavier and faster at the same time. It’s weird. It’s scary if you’re a linebacker.
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Why the Ravens Offense Finally Clicked
For years, defenses had one job: stop Lamar Jackson. If you contain the edge, you beat Baltimore. Then Eric DeCosta decided to drop a literal tank into the backfield. Now, if you focus on Lamar, Henry rumbles for 12 yards up the middle. If you stack the box to stop the big man, Lamar pulls the ball and disappears down the sideline.
It’s a "pick your poison" scenario that hasn't really been seen in the modern NFL.
During the 2025 season, Henry averaged 5.2 yards per carry. That’s not normal for a guy his age. But when you realize he was running against lighter boxes because teams were terrified of Lamar Jackson’s arm and legs, it starts to make sense.
The Contract Nobody Wants to Talk About
People love to complain about paying running backs. Usually, I’d agree with them. But the Ravens recently gave Henry a two-year, $30 million extension that keeps him in Baltimore through 2027.
Is it a lot for a 32-year-old? Maybe. But $25 million of that is guaranteed. The Ravens aren't stupid; they know their Super Bowl window is wide open right now. They aren't paying for "potential" anymore. They are paying for a guy who can carry the ball 36 times in a snowy December game at Lambeau Field—which he literally did, putting up 216 yards and 4 scores against the Packers in late 2025.
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"I fell in love with Baltimore," Henry said after signing. "I'm appreciative and grateful for everyone."
You can tell he means it. He isn't just a mercenary. He’s the engine.
Breaking the "Age 30" Curse
We’ve been told for decades that running backs die at 30. Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook—the list of stars who fell off a cliff is long.
Henry is built different. Literally. His offseason workouts are legendary for being high-intensity torture sessions. He’s 6'3". He’s 247 pounds. He still runs a sub-4.6 forty.
While other backs rely on twitchy lateral cuts that tear ACLs, Henry relies on momentum and physics. Once he gets into the secondary, DBs have a choice: get out of the way or get stiff-armed into the turf.
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What This Means for the Future
The Ravens are a run-first team, and they aren't apologizing for it. Even with Zay Flowers emerging as a legitimate threat and Mark Andrews still being a safety blanket, the identity starts with #22.
If you're watching the Ravens in 2026, keep an eye on how they use Keaton Mitchell as the lightning to Henry's thunder. It's a brutal combination. Henry wears the defense down for three quarters, and then you have to chase a guy who runs a 4.3. It's mean.
Key Takeaways for Fans:
- Monitor the carries: The Ravens have been smart about not overworking him early in the season to keep him fresh for January.
- Red zone efficiency: Henry is still the best goal-line back in the league; expect the "King" to keep poaching those short scores.
- Watch the records: He’s closing in on the top 5 all-time rushing leaders. Every game is history now.
The "King Henry" era in Baltimore isn't a victory lap. It's a title run.
Next Steps for You:
To really see the impact of Ravens running back Henry, you should go back and watch the "All-22" film of the Week 17 game against Green Bay. Pay attention to how the safeties frozen in the "box" allowed the passing lanes to open up for the rest of the offense. If you're a fantasy manager or just a die-hard Flock member, tracking his "Yards After Contact" (YAC) is the best way to tell if he’s finally slowing down—though right now, that doesn't look likely.