Baltimore Ravens running back doesn’t have plans to retire any time soon -Credit:Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
(Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry offered a candid response when asked about his NFL retirement plans.
Henry, 32, remains one of the NFL’s top running backs entering his 11th professional season and third with the Ravens, but the future Hall of Famer admitted ‘father time’ will eventually catch up to him, as it does all players. It comes as the New York Giants masterplan to keep Dexter Lawrence failed miserably despite a ‘significant’ offer.
“I don’t see myself stopping no time soon, but, if I feel like father time has caught up with me and I feel like my body’s telling me it’s probably time to shut it down, then I will do that,” Henry said on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast.
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“I’m not going to try to overdo it. But if I feel good and I feel I can still compete and play at a high level, I’m going to go out and do that.”
Henry’s sentiment is common among NFL players who want to get the most out of their career while also calling it quits at the right time.
Typically, an NFL player’s production declines as they age, especially running backs, who tend to have a shorter lifespan in the pros than most other positions due to the wear and tear they take on most every play.
Henry is a unique exception. Since coming into the NFL in 2016, the Yulee, Florida native has been one of the most dominant forces in the entire league, and he hasn’t slowed down as he has gotten older.
Henry ranks top-10 all time in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns -Credit:Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
In 2025, Henry almost single-handedly carried the Ravens into the playoffs while star quarterback Lamar Jackson dealt with nagging injuries.
Over the final five games of the season, he averaged 132.8 rushing yards per game with six rushing touchdowns, including a 216-yard, four touchdown outburst against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 to keep their hopes alive.
Baltimore ended up missing the postseason after rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a last-second field goal in Week 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a defeat that resulted in longtime head coach John Harbaugh being fired.
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Now, Henry is gearing up for the 2026 season alongside a talented Ravens team under new head coach Jesse Minter.
If Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP, is healthy, Baltimore should once again be considered among the Super Bowl contenders.
While Henry will have his sights set on an elusive championship, his individual accolades will also require some close tracking as he continues to solidify himself as one of the all-time greats.
‘King Henry’ currently ranks 10th on the all-time rushing yards leaderboard (13,108) and can realistically move up to sixth or even fifth this season. He is also fourth all time in rushing touchdowns (122), one behind Marcus Allen in third.