Not many professional running backs reach the heights Derrick Henry has—literally and figuratively. As a towering 6’3″ force on the Baltimore Ravens offense, there’s a reason he earned the nickname of “King Henry” as a high school athlete.
Since then, he’s racked up impressive accomplishments, including winning the Heisman Trophy in 2015 (notably beating then-future star running back in Christian McCaffrey) and rushing for more than 2,000 yards in a season: a rare feat in the NFL.
At 32, Henry may now be considered a veteran of the game, but he’s still delivering. After completing his tenth season in the NFL, he recently spoke with The Healthy about how he’s still producing at such a high level and the health regimen he credits with that success. Plus, the scoop on his role in an upcoming OIKOS Super Bowl commercial alongside actress Kathryn Hahn—and what he told her during the filming.
Find out how your favorite stars stay well when you subscribe to The Healthy newsletter
The Healthy: Derrick, congrats on another big season in the NFL. We know that your position of running back is a one that endures a lot of wear and tear throughout the season. How are you still performing at such a high level at this stage in your career?
Derrick Henry: I think it’s just taking care of my body, doing the things consistently and constantly that make my body feel well. Over the years I just got a regimen that I felt comfortable with that worked and I just keep on doing. And then I love football. I love getting better. I’m my worst critic, so at every game I’m always overanalyzing stuff. I love working hard and reaping the benefits from the hard work. So yeah, I think that’s the main thing is just taking care of your body, doing all the right things, just so you’re prepared week after week. Like you said, I’m in a position where you get hit every single game, so you got to have that mindset and your body got to be ready.
The Healthy: You’ve faced a number of injuries over the course of your career, but you’re still able to bounce back and be as good as ever. Have you discovered any special recovery treatments or approaches that have helped you stay at this level despite any potential setbacks?
Derrick Henry: It was after 2021 when I broke my fifth metatarsal [bone in the foot], a Jones fracture, which I missed the next half of the season, came back for the playoffs, and then we ended up getting eliminated.
Then that next year, 2022, is when I changed my diet because my diet was terrible. I was like, Man, I got to switch something up and see how my body reacts to it. So … I got from my teammate [former Tennessee Titans offensive tackle] Taylor Lewan at the time: gluten-free, no artificial sugars, no fried foods, no dairy, and just drink water the whole season.
I tried it the whole ’22 season and I did really well with it. So I was like, You know what? I’m going to stick to that every single season. And my body really responded to it. I felt good. Also, I do a lot of IVs, get my body right, make sure I’m hydrated, make sure I’m ready.
FREDERICK BREEDON/STRINGER/GETTY IMAGESDerrick Henry and Taylor Lewan
The Healthy: We were just going to ask if you’ve changed your approach to nutrition at all over the years.
Derrick Henry: Like I said, before, my diet was not good at all, but I wanted to make that change. I’d been trying to do it, but I never really went 100% and I finally did. So every season I lock into that diet and stick to it. It’s worked out well and obviously it’s been [talked about], but I just try to do what works for me and my body.
The Healthy: What are your priorities in terms of taking care of your body during offseason?
Derrick Henry: Well, I give myself a little grace. I might have a cheat meal maybe once or twice or depending on how I’m feeling, but I’m still working. I’m still working out, still working to get ready for the next season. I love working out and just love being in the gym and doing everything that makes my body feel good. I gave my chef a little break from the season just because she was doing everything for me. So we’re right back up probably in a week or two—get back on my diet and get strict on that and continue to do my IVs… just so I’m ready for the next season.
DYLAN BUELL/CONTRIBUTOR/GETTY IMAGES
The Healthy: What kind of IVs do you typically get?
Derrick Henry: Oh yeah, just regular IVs, hydration IVs, getting vitamins, just all the nutrients that you might not get every single day but get from the IVs. It’s just important. Vitamin D, CoQ10… just all those things that makes me feel good, makes me stay healthy and being who I am. [Editor’s note: Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplements or medications.]
The Healthy: In recent years, more athletes have been talking about taking care of themselves mentally and how that affects their performance.
Derrick Henry: One thing we say in football [is] the game is 90% mental, 10% physical, because we all got the physical part down. Just mentally staying locked in and being mentally prepared—it’s not an easy league, it’s hard to win in the NFL, and it comes with a lot of adversity at times throughout the season. So it’s just making sure you’re taking care of yourself mentally, being present for your job, and then for the family aspect of it. But we are world-class athletes, we know what comes with it. We just got to stay locked in and do what we need to do to be the best player that we can be week after week. But I mean, it comes with challenges, but that’s why you do the diet and do the things that make sure your mind and your body feels right to go out there and perform at a high level.
The Healthy: The Super Bowl ad you’re in for OIKOS actually subverted our expectations because when the trolley stopped, we were thinking you’d to be the one to get out and push it, but then it was Kathryn. What was shooting the commercial like, and what drew you to this partnership?
Derrick Henry: Yeah, I was excited, very happy to have the opportunity to partner with OIKOS. OIKOS is packed with protein and a match made heaven because that’s what I need to be able to perform at a high level, have strength and endurance. So it was a match made in heaven. My team hit me up with the opportunity, so I was like, “Heck yeah.” And then shooting the commercial was even fun because, like you said, people would assume that I would be the one pushing it and it was [Kathryn Hahn]. So I was excited to be able to shoot the commercial—I had a lot of fun being in San Francisco and shooting the whole thing. It was definitely a fun experience, something I’ve never done before and then it being one of the big spots for the big game. I was just very excited and appreciative to be able to partner with this.
The Healthy: What was your on-set experience like working with Kathryn?
Derrick Henry: It was really cool. I told her I remember as a kid growing up watching her on [the movie] Step Brothers—we laughed about that. And then just really just spending the whole day with her shooting the whole commercial for OIKOS and just getting to know each other, talking, laughing. She is funny, just as she is on the TV screen, on the big screen. So I had a lot of fun getting to know her and yeah, I’m excited to see it on the TV. It was a lot of fun. I’m just thankful for OIKOS put me in the big spot for them. It was my first time being in a big commercial like this and being with Kathryn, so I’m just appreciative of the opportunity.
COURTESY OIKOS
The Healthy: What are you most excited about this offseason as you get some time away from the game?
Derrick Henry: The offseason just is for you to get your body back under yourself, train as hard as you can just so you are ready for next season, spend time with family. Running hills, conditioning, just doing everything. I’m also excited to be with my daughters.
The Healthy: What’s a self-care habit that you refuse to skip?
Derrick Henry: That’s probably my skincare routine. That’s one of my big ones. If I don’t do that, I feel yucky. I dunno what it is or happens; I have to do my skincare routine. That was a good one—I never really thought about that, but probably my skincare routine because I’m huge on that and everybody knows me, knows my skincare routine is going to be with me everywhere I go for sure.
The Healthy: What does it entail?
Derrick Henry: I mean, just washing my face—I work out a lot, sweat a lot. [I use] cleaning pads, foam wash to recover from the cleaning pads and after that, putting on some hydrating lotion for my skin. I got to have the whole nine.
For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.