Alabama Legend Derrick Henry is Entering Uncharted Territory

When the Baltimore Ravens signed former Alabama Crimson Tide star Derrick Henry in free agency in March 2024, many wondered if the Ravens were getting a broken-down version of the running back.

After all, Henry showed signs of decline during his final season with the Tennessee Titans in 2024, and he was already 30 years old.

Instead, Henry enjoyed arguably the best year of his NFL career during his debut campaign in Baltimore, racking up 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns on an incredible 5.9 yards per carry. He then totaled 1,595 yards and 16 scores while averaging 5.2 yards per tote in 2025.

It's incredibly rare to see a halfback in his 30s post one great season; let alone two, and now, Henry is looking for a third straight.

But is this finally the year the wheels fall off for the Alabama legend?

It's a fair question to ask. Henry is 32 years old and recorded over 300 carries in his first two seasons with the Ravens. He has played in all 17 games three campaigns in a row, so injuries haven't been an issue, but could that fortune dry up this fall?

Expecting a running back with Henry's type of workload to continue registering elite numbers well into his 30s seems like crazy talk. The thing is, Henry has already defied expectations, so who is to say he can't do it again?

At some point, though, the five-time Pro Bowler is going to hit a wall. There is obviously no way Henry can do this forever. And it could be this year.

That's why there is actually a bit of reluctance among Fantasy Football owners to draft the Yulee, Fl. native heading into 2026.

Henry spent three years at Alabama between 2013 and 2015, helping lead the Crimson Tide to a national championship during his final season in Tuscaloosa.

That year, Henry rattled off 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground, leading the nation in both categories. He finished his career at 'Bama averaging six yards per carry.

Henry was then selected by the Titans in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft and was a bit of a late bloomer, as he didn't record his first 1,000-yard campaign until 2018.

We'll see if Henry can continue his dominance this season, or if age finally catches up to the superstar playmaker.