Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry is well on his way to a Hall-of-Fame career. The former Heisman winner has accomplished so much through his first five seasons in the National Football League, including leading the league in rushing yards and attempts the last two seasons.
On Thursday, Henry was referred to as a “modern-day Jim Brown” by former NFL quarterback Phil Simms on “Inside the NFL,” as both running backs are similar in stature and dominated in the ground game.
“(Henry) is tall, like Eric Dickerson,” Simms said. “Look at him as he runs – 6-3, (but) he has the power of Earl Campbell. He can run over people, break tackles. He is faster than the other running backs I’m talking about.
“He is the modern-day Jim Brown. When I watch him play, that’s who I see.”
The latter led the NFL in rushing yards in eight of the nine seasons he played and was named the league MVP three times during that span.
While Henry has a long way to go in terms of Brown’s overall career accomplishments, he has a leg up on the nine-time pro bowler, winning the Heisman Trophy during Alabama’s 2015 season.
Brown finished fifth in Heisman voting in 1956, despite breaking multiple school records at Syracuse University, including rushing for six touchdowns in a single game.
“Growing up you know, I always loved the running back position,” Henry said. “And as I got older, you know, I always watched NFL Network as a kid, and they used to have like the running back to the 80s or the 70s and the 90s. I think he’s an icon for what he did for the game and how he was off the field so yeah. [I] got a lot of respect for Jim Brown.”
Henry is well on his way to leading the league in rushing yards and attempts for the third consecutive season. Entering the Titans’ Week 8 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, the 27-year-old already has 191 carries for 869 yards, 290 more than the next closest back.
With the Cleveland Browns, Brown accumulated 2,359 carries for 12,312 yards, good for a career average of 5.2 yards per rushing attempt. Henry currently has averaged 4.9 yards per carry through five-plus seasons.
Brown was more of a threat in the passing game during his time, hauling in a career-best 47 receptions for 517 yards during the 1962 season. Henry is certainly no slouch in that department, though.
He’s been more involved in offensive coordinator Todd Downing’s passing attack this season than in previous years under Arthur Smith, with 18 receptions thus far, one shy of his career-best of 19 set in 2020.
Despite the heavy workload, Henry has proven durable throughout his career and noted that he hopes he can be as distinguished as Brown when his playing days are said and done.
“He’s a legend,” Henry concluded of Brown. “And you see it by the way he played and the stories you hear about him. Anytime you get your name mentioned with his, it’s definitely an honor.”
Henry and the Titans will face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at noon CT.
[lawrence-related id=75071,75067,74937]
[listicle id=75101]