Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry enters the 2026 NFL season driven by a desire to reach the Super Bowl, expressing frustration over watching the championship game from home. As he chases his first ring, Henry is also eyeing significant milestones on the all-time rushing list.
As the Baltimore Ravens prepare for the 2026 campaign, running back Derrick Henry has made his ultimate ambition unmistakably clear. After missing the postseason entirely in 2025 and suffering a divisional-round exit the previous year, the runner is fueled by a simple motivation: reaching the league’s ultimate stage.
Chasing a Championship With Lamar Jackson in Baltimore
Henry signed with the Ravens following his departure from the Tennessee Titans specifically because he believed a title was attainable alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson. Yet, through two seasons in Baltimore, that partnership has yielded just one playoff win. The organization subsequently made changes, firing coach John Harbaugh, hiring Jesse Minter, and revamping the defense during the offseason.
Henry’s postseason resume already spans nine games, featuring 211 touches for 1,090 yards and seven touchdowns. Despite those individual outputs, team success has fallen short. Speaking on “The Lounge” podcast, via Ryan Mink of the team website, Henry underscored the urgency he feels entering the upcoming schedule.
That sentiment echoes across his broader outlook. Having played in only one AFC Championship Game—a 35-24 defeat to the Chiefs back in the 2019 season—Henry acknowledges the toll that watching from the sidelines takes.
“I want to win a Super Bowl. That’s a big motivation. I just want to be able to feel that feeling. I’m tired of watching. Every year, I’m tired of being at home on the couch watching. I want to be a part of it. That’s what’s motivating me right now. I’m going to keep going until we get to that point. We have the 2026 season to get that accomplished.”
Climbing the All-Time Rushing Ranks at Age 32
While team goals take priority, individual milestones continue to stack up. At 32 years old, Henry currently ranks 10th on the all-time rushing list. He sits 994 yards away from climbing to No. 6, a milestone that would require surpassing four Hall of Fame running backs: Eric Dickerson, Jerome Bettis, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Curtis Martin.
“If me getting to No. 6 gets me to the Super Bowl, then so be it. If we get that ring, everything else will happen. For me to be able to be in the top 10 and this year to be able to get to 6, it’s so crazy to me. Like, me?! The guys I grew up watching, idolizing and hearing about, it’s so crazy.”
That perspective highlights a profound respect for football history. Yet, production dictates that these milestones remain within reach. Henry rushed for nearly 1,600 yards last season, maintaining an average of over 90 rushing yards per game in six of the last seven years while accumulating the most rushing yards over the past two seasons combined.
An Upgraded Offense and the Emmitt Smith Record
Further down the horizon sits the NFL’s all-time rushing record: Emmitt Smith’s mark of 18,355 yards. With Henry currently positioned at 13,018 yards, the historic mark is no longer entirely out of the conversation, though the running back maintains a pragmatic approach.
“I don’t see myself stopping no time soon. If I get there, that would be cool. If not, it wasn’t meant to be. I’m not trying to hang my hat on chasing that record. If it happens, it happens. But like I said, I feel good and I want to keep going as long as I can.”
Compounding those long-term prospects are immediate roster enhancements. With an upgraded offensive line and a new scheme, speculation naturally turns toward historical territory—such as the second 2,000-yard rushing season, a feat no player in NFL history has ever accomplished twice. Asked about the possibility, Henry offered a knowing smirk and a brief assessment.
“That would be different, for sure.”
