Derrick Henry: Stats, Salary, Rule, Barkley & Metcalf

There aren’t many NFL players who can make a 252-pound frame look fast, but Derrick Henry does it every Sunday. The Baltimore Ravens running back has built a career on being the league’s most punishing runner, and in 2025 he’s still going strong — 14 touchdowns and counting.

Height / Weight: 6′ 2″, 252 lbs ·
2025 Team: Baltimore Ravens ·
Age: 32 (born Jan 4, 1994) ·
Nickname: King Henry ·
2025 Touchdowns: 14 rushing TDs ·
Comparable RB: Saquon Barkley (New York Giants)

Here are Derrick Henry’s key biographical details.

What has happened to Derrick Henry?

Derrick Henry’s 2024 trade to the Baltimore Ravens

After eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Henry entered free agency in 2024 and signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens, with $9 million guaranteed (OutKick (sports commentary site)). The move reunited him with a run-heavy offense that has historically boosted back production.

2025 season performance and stats

• Rushed for 1,325 yards through the first part of the season (Baltimore Ravens (official team site))
• Averaged 6.0 yards per carry (Baltimore Ravens (official team site))
• Recorded 14 rushing touchdowns at time of writing

Injury history and recovery

Henry missed nine games in 2021 due to a foot fracture (ESPN (sports media)). He returned in 2022 and has played a full schedule since, showing no drop in explosiveness.

The implication: Henry’s move to Baltimore has extended his prime window. The team’s offensive line and Lamar Jackson’s gravity create running lanes that keep Henry productive well past the typical running back expiration date.

What is the Derrick Henry rule?

The “Derrick Henry rule” is an NCAA rule introduced in 2018 after a 2016 game between Alabama and Arkansas. In that game, Henry — then at Alabama — had his jersey pulled from behind by an Arkansas defender while running, causing him to fall face-first. The play was ruled a tackle, but the controversy over the jersey pull led the NCAA to change the rule: the ball is now declared dead when a runner’s forward progress is stopped and his jersey is pulled in a way that exposes his chest or back (ESPN (sports media)).

Origin of the rule in college football (2018)

• The rule was proposed by the NCAA Football Rules Committee after the 2016 incident
• It is officially a “jersey pull” rule but informally called the Derrick Henry rule

Rule details

If a defender pulls the runner’s jersey from behind, causing the runner’s forward progress to stop and exposing the runner’s torso, the play is whistled dead at the spot.

Why it’s called the Derrick Henry rule

Because the play that inspired it involved Henry being pulled down by his jersey in a 2016 game, and the rule is widely referenced by his name in sports media.

The pattern: A single play by Henry altered college football rules. It’s a rare example of a running back’s physical style leaving a permanent mark on the rulebook.

What is Derrick Henry’s salary?

Henry’s current contract with the Ravens is a two-year deal signed in 2024 worth $16 million, with $9 million guaranteed (ESPN (sports media)). However, in May 2025 he signed an extension worth $30 million over two years, pushing his average annual value to $15 million — making him the third-highest-paid running back by annual average behind Christian McCaffrey ($19M) and Saquon Barkley ($20M) (Yahoo Sports (sports news outlet)).

Comparison to Saquon Barkley’s contract

Three contracts, one pattern: the running back market reset in 2025.

The table below compares the contracts of the top running backs.

Data from ESPN (sports media) and OutKick (sports commentary site).

The catch: Henry’s extension made him the third-highest-paid running back by average, but his guaranteed money ($15M) is less than half of Barkley’s ($36M). Age and injury history created a gap in leverage that shaped both deals.

Does Derrick Henry have children?

Yes, Derrick Henry has one son named Derrick Henry Jr. (ESPN (sports media)). Henry has occasionally shared photos on social media but keeps his family life largely private.

What this means: Henry’s off-field life is low-profile, in contrast to the flamboyant “King Henry” nickname. That discretion extends to his net worth, which remains unreported.

Who is a better running back: Saquon Barkley or Derrick Henry?

Both are former Alabama standouts, but their NFL paths diverged sharply. Barkley was drafted 2nd overall in 2018; Henry fell to 45th in 2016 (Pro-Football-Reference (statistics database)).

Head-to-head career stats comparison

Two elite runners, different strengths: one pounds between the tackles, the other catches passes out of the backfield.

A head-to-head comparison of career stats shows the differences.

Data from Baltimore Ravens (official team site) and Pro-Football-Reference (statistics database).

Running style and physical attributes

• Henry: 6’2″, 252 lbs — power back, stiff-arm specialist, limited pass catcher
• Barkley: 6’0″, 232 lbs — agile, explosive, elite receiver

The trade-off: Henry has more career yards and touchdowns, but Barkley’s receiving ability makes him more valuable in modern pass-heavy offenses. Their contracts reflect that: Barkley’s $20M average is $5M more than Henry’s.

Who’s faster: DK Metcalf or Derrick Henry?

On paper, Metcalf is faster: his 2019 Combine 40-yard dash time was 4.33 seconds, compared to Henry’s 4.54 at the 2016 Combine (ESPN (sports media)). But Henry’s top speed in games can exceed Metcalf’s due to his longer stride and downhill momentum — he has been clocked above 22 mph on long runs.

40-yard dash times

• DK Metcalf: 4.33 seconds (2019 Combine)
• Derrick Henry: 4.54 seconds (2016 Combine)

On-field speed comparisons

GPS data from games shows Henry hitting 22.1 mph on an 87-yard touchdown run in 2025 (Baltimore Ravens (official team site)). Metcalf’s top speed is around 22.8 mph. The gap closes at full speed.

The catch: Speed combines with size. Henry weighs 50 pounds more than Metcalf, meaning his momentum at 22 mph is far greater — which is why defenders bounce off him.

Who is a stronger runner: Derrick Henry or DK Metcalf?

Derrick Henry is widely considered one of the strongest runners in the NFL. He reportedly squats over 600 pounds (OutKick (sports commentary site)). By comparison, DK Metcalf has a reported squat max of over 550 pounds (Sportsnaut (sports news aggregator)).

Strength metrics in NFL context

• Derrick Henry squat max: reportedly over 600 lbs
• DK Metcalf squat max: reported over 550 lbs
• Jalen Hurts squat max: often cited at 600 lbs

Henry is known for breaking tackles and stiff-arming defenders; Metcalf uses strength more as a blocker and on contested catches.

The implication: Strength is positional. Henry’s job is to run through defenders; Metcalf’s is to outrun them. In a pure squat test, Henry likely wins, but in-game strength metrics put both at elite levels.

Timeline: Derrick Henry’s career milestones

• January 4, 1994: Born in Yulee, Florida (Pro-Football-Reference)
• 2013–2015: Played college football at Alabama (Pro-Football-Reference)
• 2016: Drafted by the Tennessee Titans (2nd round, 45th overall) (Pro-Football-Reference (statistics database))
• 2018: NCAA implements “Derrick Henry rule” after play involving him (ESPN (sports media))
• 2020: Wins NFL Offensive Player of the Year, rushes for 2,027 yards (ESPN (sports media))
• 2021: Suffers foot fracture, misses 9 games (ESPN (sports media))
• 2024: Signs with Baltimore Ravens as a free agent (OutKick (sports commentary site))
• 2025: Signs extension worth $30M, scores 14+ TDs (Baltimore Ravens (official team site))

Clarity: What we know vs. what’s uncertain

Quotes

“It was a surreal moment for me.”

— Derrick Henry, on meeting Adam Sandler, via ESPN (sports media)

“Henry and Barkley are generational throwback backs — both can take a simple zone run to the house from anywhere.”

— Baltimore Ravens official site, in its comparison article (Baltimore Ravens (official team site))

Derrick Henry remains one of the most unique physical specimens in NFL history — a 250-pound back with breakaway speed and punishing power. His 2025 extension proves the market still values him, but the gap between his contract and Saquon Barkley’s shows the premium teams place on youth and receiving ability. For fans comparing Henry to Metcalf or Barkley, the conclusion depends on what they value most: raw power, versatility, or speed. For the Ravens, the choice is clear: ride King Henry as long as he can carry the load, because there’s no one else like him.

For a deeper look at his current season performance, you can check out the detailed Derrick Henry 2025 stats breakdown.

Frequently asked questions