Alabama Legend Derrick Henry's Decline Has Sadly Begun

Years from now, Alabama Crimson Tide legend Derrick Henry will make a very interesting case study in peak athlete performance.

At 32 years old, Henry entered the 2026 NFL campaign as one of the top running backs in football, an extreme rarity given his age.

Last year, the Baltimore Ravens star racked up 1,595 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging an incredible 5.2 yards per carry. The season prior, he rattled off 1,921 yards and 16 scores on 5.9 yards per attempt.

And let's keep in mind that came after Henry finally appeared to be showing signs of decline during his final season with the Tennessee Titans in 2023, when he rushed for 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns on a much more modest 4.2 yards per tote.

But now, through Henry's first six games of his 11th NFL season, it seems that Henry might actually be in decline for real this time.

The counting numbers still look good, as Henry has registered 534 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. But he has done it off of 130 carries, meaning he is logging a very pedestrian 4.1 yards per tote. That is a career low.

Yes, I understand that Henry also posted a nearly identical efficiency rate three years ago, but you kind of get the feeling that this truly is the beginning of the end for the Crimson Tide product.

Henry has already defied age and expectations for a veteran halfback. Generally, even the best running backs start going downhill at around 28 or 29 years old depending on their workload. And you would be hard-pressed to find a ball-carrier with a heavier workload than Henry.

Amazingly enough, the Yulee, Fl. native also has not missed a game since 2022, adding even more mileage on to his legs.

The Ravens rely on Henry heavily, and that's especially been the case with Lamar Jackson banged up the last couple of seasons.

But it's finally catching up to him.

Henry spent three seasons in Tuscaloosa between 2013 and 2015, leading Alabama to a national championship during his final campaign with the school.

That season, Henry accumulated 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns as a rusher ... both Crimson Tide records. He won the Heisman Trophy and also finished his Alabama career with 3,571 rushing yards, breaking Shaun Alexander's lifetime mark.

Henry has continued his tremendous success on the NFL level, and it's genuinely amazing that he remains a featured back at this stage of his career. But sadly, it does appear that the walls are finally closing in for the king.