Derrick Henry is unlike any other running back in the league. His size, strength and speed are unmatched by other ball carriers. Linebackers? Maybe.
The Tennessee Titans star running back has been the NFL rushing leader for two years in a row, and it wouldn’t shock anybody if he came out of the 2021 season with a third consecutive season of the league’s most rushing yards.
The most he’s ever had in a single season was 2,027.
The NFL record for most rushing yards in a season was set by Eric Dickerson in 1984 when he ran for 2,105 yards.
Henry came within 100 of the record in 2020, and he would have had it if maybe he had one extra game.
Well, now he does as the NFL moves toward a 17-game regular season.
CBS Sports’ NFL analyst Bryan DeArdo believes Henry will likely break the record this upcoming season.
“The league’s two-time defending rushing champion is also the latest member of the 2,000-yard club. A year after running for a league-best 1,540 yards, Henry rumbled for 2,027 yards last season while also leading the NFL in touchdown runs for a second straight year,” writes DeArdo. “While he also led the NFL with 681 carries over the last two seasons, the 27-year-old Henry should be able to produce at least one more monster season in 2021. The offseason signings of receivers Julio Jones and Josh Reynolds should help spread out the offense more for Henry. Tennessee also drafted Dillon Radunz while also signing veteran Kendall Lamm to help fill their void at right tackle.
“If healthy, Henry is the hands-down favorite to win a third consecutive rushing title while also putting himself in position to break Dickerson’s record. A faster start in 2021 (of his 10 100-yard games last season, four took place in the Titans’ first eight games) would further increase Henry’s odds at making history.”
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Derrick Henry throughout his 2021 campaign.
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