Derrick Henry’s career with the Tennessee Titans had no shortage of memorable moments. The King could break a long run at any given moment in the game while delivering punishing stiff arms along the way.
Henry’s 53-yarder in the 2019 season against the Houston Texans gave him the rushing title. He had a 68-yard scamper against the Chiefs that same year, a 72-yard rushing touchdown against the Colts in 2017, and an iconic 99-yard touchdown run against the Jaguars in 2018 immediately come to mind.
However, the latter almost never happened.
Former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, who has been the head coach of the Green Bay Packers since the 2019 season, revealed that Henry’s 99-yard run was actually supposed to be a quarterback sneak.
WOAH: Matt LaFleur reveals that Derrick Henry's incredible 99-yard TD run in 2018 was supposed to be a QB sneak 🤯
via @gmfb @packers https://t.co/gBxS2xoems pic.twitter.com/OQ138hzIX8
— A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) August 22, 2024
“Full disclosure here: I had actually called a quarterback sneak can to the run or vice versa,” said LaFleur, whose Packers will go up against Henry and the Baltimore Ravens in their preseason finale this weekend. “There was an open A-gap. I’ll never forget.
“I’m like, ‘We’re going to run the quarterback sneak,’ and (Marcus Mariota) handed the ball off. My initial thought was, ‘What are we doing?’ until (Henry) broke about seven tackles on the way to a 99-yard run.”
Henry, of course, signed with the Ravens after spending the first eight years of his career with the Titans. During that time, the former Heisman Trophy winner racked up 2,030 carries and 9,502 rushing yards, both second-most in franchise history.
However, Henry’s 90 career rushing touchdowns were by far the most in Titans/Oilers history.
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