After hitting another historic milestone, is Derrick Henry a future Hall of Famer?
Has RB Derrick Henry done enough to deserve a spot in Canton, OH?
With former Oilers and Titans legend Eddie George on the shortlist of potential Hall of Famers for the 2024 class, it’s time to discuss if Derrick Henry will be immortalized in Canton, OH.
I asked Chat GPT: should Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry be a Hall of Famer?
The answer it gave me was:
‘It’s difficult to definitively say whether Derrick Henry should be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame as his career is still ongoing and his ultimate achievements and impact were yet to be fully realized.’
‘However, up until that point, Derrick Henry had been an exceptional running back, known for his remarkable rushing abilities, including his speed, power, and durability.’
He’s called The King for a reason, and there are more than enough reasons to justify Derrick being not just a Hall of Famer, but a first-ballot Hall of Famer once he retires.
Why Derrick Henry deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
Let’s start with career statistics.
- 9,074 rushing yards (39th all-time)
- 84 rushing TDs (17th all-time)
- 4.7 yards per attempt (tied for 22nd all-time)
- Named 2020 AP Offensive Player of the Year
- 3-time Pro Bowler (2019, 2020, & 2022)
- First Team All-Pro (2020) & Second Team All-Pro (2019)
- One of eight running backs to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. It was the fifth-most yards in a single NFL regular season (2,027).
Henry has been and remains the star back for Tennessee as we head down the stretch of his eighth NFL season and sixth as the starter. The statistics show precisely that.
Henry remains one of the most elite backs in the NFL despite teams knowing exactly what he can do with the ball. He faces a stacked box more than any other back in the league and still manages to get positive yardage.
Especially in the last two seasons behind a shambolic offensive line, it’s even more impressive to behold how many yards Henry can gain even after substantial contact.
Henry has redefined what it means to be a star running back in the NFL, with the role changing dramatically in recent years.
Despite teams treating RBs like disposable playmakers with little value beyond a season or two, The King has solidified his claim atop the league as the undisputed best in the business.
Derrick Henry vs. Eddie George
I wonder whether Henry will be a future Hall of Famer because of Eddie George.
The Oilers/Titans legend hopes to be included in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024, as he was named a semifinalist earlier this week. To fans of the franchise, it’s a no-brainer decision.
Eddie was and remains one of the most influential and best players in franchise history.
In eight seasons with the Titans, here are Eddie’s numbers:
- 10,009 rushing yards
- 64 rushing TDs
- 3.7 yards per attempt
The most significant differences between Henry and George are twofold.
First, Eddie has a Super Bowl appearance and one more Pro Bowl appearance. Team success is not directly related to individual success, nor is it a deciding factor in how a player is elected to the HoF (Browns tackle Joe Thomas is proof of that). However, it is something the voters consider when making these difficult selections.
Second, the difference in carries and games started. Though George is 1,000 yards ahead of Henry when comparing them side-by-side over the same period, we must remember that George had 2,865 attempts with the Titans while Henry has 1,926.
Eddie played and started in 128 games, while Derrick played in 113 and started in 82. That means that Derrick is, on average, gaining more yards per game (80.3 for his career) than Eddie was (78.2)
All this to say: were Derrick Henry to start and play the same number of games as Eddie George while averaging 80.3 yards per game, he would surpass the famous #27.
If Henry were to play 128 games with that average output, he would have 10,278 career rushing yards — over 200 more than George.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame committee will not be looking at statistics alone, and we must consider the other former players, coaches, and personnel that are up for discussion when weighing the numbers.
The Verdict
So, when he is ready to hang up the crown, will Derrick Henry make it to the Hall of Fame in Canton, OH?
Based on his consistent dominance and individual accolades, yes.
However, it is not guaranteed.
Whether or not Eddie George makes it into the Hall on the second ballot will dictate what will happen when it comes time to discuss Henry.
In the next few years, we will get an even better idea when icons like Adrian Petterson and Frank Gore — both top-10 in career rushing yards — are added to the ballot.
Having watched Derrick Henry throughout his college career at Alabama, where he won a championship and the Heisman, he has transitioned seamlessly to the NFL.
Recently, it‘s become more evident that #22 comes from a dying breed of highly athletic, powerful running backs that use sheer strength over speed.
He will forever be a Titans legend regardless of where or how he ends his tremendous career with the franchise! Titan Up!
