Still The King 👑 👑

Derrick Henry’s historic 2000 yard season gives him back to back rushing titles

By Tennessee Titans

January 7^th, 2021

A Visual Look Through At Derrick Henry's Historic Season

Derrick Henry became just the eighth running back in NFL history to reach 2,000 yards while earning his second consecutive rushing title. We take a look at the 2020 season from start to finish, from training camp to the season finale in Houston, where he made NFL history.

Off The Field

Henry is larger than life on and off the field. On game days, he’s the bruiser in the backfield, dishing out stiff-arms while finishing runs. He also has a swagger off the field, with his fashionable wardrobe. Henry doesn’t necessary like all the attention, however. In interviews, he quickly credits his teammates, and coaches.

Practice

Henry is a workout warrior during the offseason. He’s a tone-setter at practices as well. Coaches and teammates noticed Henry going out of his way to take on more of a leadership role last season, and it’s been more of the same in 2020. Prior to the season, Henry was voted a captain by his teammates.

The Stiff Arm

Henry has been stiff-arming defenders since his days at Yulee High in Florida. It continued at the University of Alabama. In the NFL, Henry’s stiff arm has been on full display this season. Henry threw Bills cornerback Josh Norman to the ground during a game in October, and Lions cornerback Alex Myres became his latest victim in December.

Eyes on the Prize

Henry’s focus has always been on team goals. Same for the Titans. But Henry’s success – he produced seven 100-yard games in 2020, and three games of 200-plus yards – started the conversation about the potential for a 2,000-yard season.

Late in the Season

Once again, Henry has been a workhorse down the stretch. He produced a pair of 200-yard performances in the final quarter of the season went for over 100 yards in six of the final eight games. He 250-yard effort against the Texans in the season finale established a career-high, and franchise-record, for Henry.

The Boys Up Front

Henry regularly gives props to those around him, and those same players take a lot of pride in Henry’s success. The Titans have battled through injuries on the o-line this season, which has made Henry’s success even more impressive. The Titans starting offensive line looked like this on Sunday – LT David Quessenberry, LG Rodger Saffold, C Ben Jones, RG Nate Davis, RT Dennis Kelly – but many others have played a part in the success of the offense, and the running game, including the team’s receivers, tight ends, and fullback Khari Blasingame.

Long Live the King

Henry’s 2020 will live in the memory of Titans, and NFL fans, forever.

Here’s a look at some of the things Henry accomplished:

Henry led the NFL and set a franchise record with 2,027 rushing yards in 2020, becoming the eighth player in league annals to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a season. His 2,027 rushing yards gave him the fifth-highest total in NFL history behind Eric Dickerson’s 2,105 (1984), Adrian Peterson’s 2,097 (2012), Jamal Lewis’ 2,066 (2003) and Barry Sanders’ 2,053 (1997). Henry broke Chris Johnson’s franchise mark of 2,006 rushing yards in 2009.
Henry became the first player since LaDainian Tomlinson (2006-07) to lead the NFL in rushing yards in consecutive seasons. Henry previously led the league in 2019 with 1,540 rushing yards.
Henry became the fifth all-time NFL player to lead the NFL in rushing yards, attempts and rushing touchdowns in consecutive seasons. It is a feat that had not been attained since Cleveland’s Leroy Kelly did it from 1967 to 1968. The only other players to achieve it are Jim Brown (1958-59), Steve Van Buren (1947-49) and Bill Paschal (1943-44).
Henry became the first player in NFL history with five career games with at least 200 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Henry became the fourth player in NFL history with at least five career 200-yard rushing games, joining O.J. Simpson (six), Adrian Peterson (six) and Tiki Barber (five).
Henry set a career high with 17 rushing touchdowns in 2020, finishing with the second-best total in franchise history behind Earl Campbell’s 19 rushing touchdowns in 1979.
Henry finished the 2020 season with 1,221 rushing yards in road games, the most by any NFL running back since 1948. The previous high was held by Eric Dickerson, who had 1,087 rushing yards in road games for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.
Henry became the fifth player in NFL history with three 200-yard rushing games in a season, joining Earl Campbell (four in 1980), O.J. Simpson (1973), Tiki Barber (2005) and Jay Ajayi (2016).
Henry finished the season with 2,141 scrimmage yards (2,027 rushing and 114 receiving), which ranks second in franchise history behind Chris Johnson’s 2,509 scrimmage yards in 2009.
Henry registered his ninth career rushing touchdown of 50-plus yards since entering the NFL in 2016, sprinting for a 52-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He leads the NFL in 50-plus-yard rushing touchdowns since 2016, with the next-closest competitor being Saquon Barkley with six 50-yard touchdown runs. Henry added a six-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Henry registered his 10th game of 2020 with at least 100 rushing yards to tie Earl Campbell (1980) for the third-most in franchise history. Only Campbell in 1979 (11) and Chris Johnson in 2009 (12) had more 100-yard rushing games in a Titans/Oilers season than Henry. Henry’s 10 100-yard games in 2020 were the most in the NFL since Dallas running back DeMarco Murray had 12 in 2014.