Derrick Henry has cemented his place among the all-time greats in Tennessee Titans history.
The former second-round pick has 9,502 career rushing yards with 90 touchdowns, first-team and second-team All-Pro honors, four Pro Bowls and an NFL Offensive Player of the Year award to his name.
As NFL free agency nears, it looks increasingly likely that Henry will play for another franchise for the first time in 2024.
[2024 NFL Free Agency: Latest News & Analysis]
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Henry is “unlikely to return” to the Titans, though the door to a new deal between the two sides is “not completely closed.”
Running back Derrick Henry is unlikely to return to the Tennessee #Titans after a historic eight-year run, per sources, though the door is not completely closed.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 8, 2024
Henry would leave TEN with 9,502 yards, 90 touchdowns, two rushing titles, one OPOY and four Pro Bowls. pic.twitter.com/kffuHJGBkV
Tennessee struggled to a 6–11 record in 2023, ultimately costing coach Mike Vrabel his job. Still, Henry was effective, rushing for 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns. It was his fifth season of at least 1,000 yards and his sixth straight year with double digit touchdowns. The 30-year old has remained one of the NFL’s top running backs, and has been incredibly reliable outside of an injury-plagued 2021.
Even so, it is not a huge surprise that the Titans’ new leadership—which includes second-year general manager Ran Carthon and first-year coach Brian Callahan—want to go in a new direction after Henry’s four-year, $50 million contract came to an end following the 2023 season.
