Derrick Henry brought an end to one potential Baltimore Ravens run to the Super Bowl in 2020.
A little more than four years later, Henry hopes to capture a Super Bowl as a member of the Ravens.
The second-leading rusher in Titans franchise history on Tuesday agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with Baltimore, per ESPN.
Henry took to social media not long after the news broke, posting, “Flock Nation I swea it’s up !” followed by an emoji for strength.
Teams were allowed to begin negotiating with pending unrestricted free agents at 11 a.m. on Monday, but can’t officially sign players until 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
Henry’s departure from Tennessee is sure to disappoint Titans fans, but the fact that he will play for Baltimore may be even harder to stomach. It will no doubt conjure memories of two Titans legends, quarterback Steve McNair and wide receiver Derrick Mason, who completed their careers with the Ravens.
Plus, the Titans/Ravens rivalry dates back more than two decades.
One of the more memorable moments in the rivalry occurred in January 2020, when Henry and the Titans stunned top-seeded Baltimore 28-12 in a playoff contest. Henry was the single biggest reason for Tennessee’s victory, as he steamrolled the Ravens with 195 rushing yards and also threw a three-yard touchdown pass.
Eleven months later, Henry ran 28 times for 133 yards in a regular-season game against the Ravens, sealing the 30-24 victory with a 29-yard touchdown run in overtime.
Years later, Henry joins a Ravens team that once again has designs on a Super Bowl run, after losing 17-10 to visiting Kansas City in the AFC Championship game.
It just may be that Henry is the missing piece for Baltimore, which will feature an impressive array of offensive options — also including quarterback Lamar Jackson, tight end Mark Andrews and wide receiver Zay Flowers.
Henry said after the 2023 season that his top priority was winning a Super Bowl.
Coach took team to playoffs three times, but Titans struggled in past two seasons
The 30-year-old Henry bids farewell to the Titans following an incredible eight-year career in Tennessee. A second-round pick out of Alabama in 2016, Henry didn’t become the team’s full-time starter until 2018. But he leaves with 2,030 carries for 9,502 rushing yards, a total second only to Eddie George (2,733 carries for 10,009 yards) in franchise history. Henry holds the franchise record of 93 touchdowns — 90 on the ground and three receiving touchdowns.
The Yulee, Fla., native earned Pro Bowl honors four times, including in 2023, and he was named All-Pro in 2020. Henry topped 1,000 yards in five of his final six seasons, totaling 2,027 yards in 2020. He had 937 yards in 2021 despite playing only eight games due to injury.
Meanwhile, the Titans will move on without Henry, relying on second-year back Tyjae Spears and free-agent acquisition Tony Pollard. Spears totaled 838 yards of total offense last season (453 rushing yards, 385 receiving yards), while Pollard — who has reportedly agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal — has totaled 762 carries for 3,621 yards and 23 touchdowns in his five-year career. Pollard has topped 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons.
Under new coach Brian Callahan, the Titans will feature a different, less run-heavy philosophy in 2024, following the departure of Mike Vrabel.
Hundreds of miles away in Baltimore, Henry will start 2024 with a clean slate as well, this time wearing a purple jersey.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
