Derrick Henry
TENNESSEE TITANS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Running Back | Alabama | 7 |
Excellence on the Field:
Tennessee selected Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry in the 2016 NFL Draft. In 2021, he led the NFL with 937 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns through eight games before missing the final nine games of the regular season with a foot injury. In 2020, Derrick became the first player to lead the NFL in rushing yards in consecutive seasons (2019-20) since LaDainian Tomlinson (2006-07). Henry was named the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2020 after a historic campaign where he totaled 378 rushing attempts for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns, becoming the eighth player in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards in a season. His rushing yardage total established a franchise record, led the NFL, and finished fifth on the all-time single-season rushing charts. He was honored with his second consecutive Pro Bowl, named first-team AP All-Pro, and FedEx Ground Player of the Year Award for the second consecutive year in 2020. In 2019, Derrick was the NFL's leading rusher with 1,540 yards and 16 rushing scores. He was named to his first Pro Bowl and added second-team AP All-Pro honors after leading the NFL in rushing and tying for the lead in rushing touchdowns.
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts This Year:
At the core of his being, Derrick Henry gravitates towards helping others. As his on-field success blossomed, he felt called to maximize his platform and created the "Two All Foundation," which levels the playing field for today's youth so their future success is not limited by the circumstances of their upbringing, background, disability or influence. He is dedicated to being a resource that provides support TWO ALL adolescents. The foundation lives at the heart of everything he does. Derrick comes from humble beginnings - when he learned the football team of his former high school was struggling, he stepped in. The kids struggled with feeling unity as the school was not able to provide matching gear, so he donated tracksuits for players and coaches, totaling $10k in financial impact but far more in team morale. To ensure the middle school had the same support, he donated footballs, backpacks and water bottles. Giving Girls an Edge: In fall 2022, Two All partnered with Bridgestone to inspire and empower hundreds of middle school girls to become leaders in STEM. Through Derrick's initiative, girls from underserved communities will have increased access to STEM education and mentorship through a program designed to spark and maintain their interest from middle school into the workforce. The partnership runs through the season with an end goal of raising $100k for Play Like a Girl. In fall 2022, Derrick sought to increase his impact on students returning to school by donating $22,500 to H.O.P.E. and Blessings in A Backpack. His donation to H.O.P.E. helps provide a safe environment that empowers inner city children to step into their greatest potential. His donation to Blessings provides hunger-free weekends for 100 children all year at Schwab Elementary, where 95% of students qualify for free lunch. Derrick is the first to support NFL and team initiatives. To raise awareness for Crucial Catch, he wore a custom t-shirt during his presser and pregame warmups, urging fans to get screened early. He also spoke on the impact cancer has had on his loved ones, highlighting a family member battling colon cancer. Derrick also teamed up with Mars Petcare to promote shelter pet adoption, resulting in more than 150 shelter pets finding forever homes. He has also partnered with United Way of Greater Nashville as a spokesperson for their 100 Miles campaign.
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past:
In 2021, Nashville firefighter Jeremy Taylor suddenly lost his family home and belongings after his home tragically burnt down. Derrick became aware and immediately stepped up, donating $10k to support Jeremy and his family as they rebuilt. A girl dad, Derrick has a love for children. Raised in Yulee, Fla., a rural and underserved community, he has hosted four back-to-school events for the community. Last year, he donated supplies, backpacks, and bicycles for 200 children. Since 2016, Derrick and his family have handed out more than 500 toys ahead of the holidays in addition to gift cards for hundreds of children. Additionally, he continues to support the Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee through a variety of efforts, recently partnering with the organization to host an event providing 5,000 backpacks with essential school supplies for children. He also invited the 25 most in-need children to an in-person back-to-school shopping day to help them prepare for the year ahead. During the 2020 holiday season, Derrick was unable to conduct in-person events but still sought a way to impact local children. He organized a Zoom with 50 kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee, surprising them with $5,000 in Target gift cards and new Nike shoes. He also has given time and resources to "Pay Away the Layaway," paying off more than $10,000 in layaways over Christmas to deserving families. Disaster relief continues to motivate Derrick to support those impacted by unforeseen devastating events. After Hurricane Laura, he gave $20k to CORE Response and $10k to the American Red Cross for relief in Haiti. Closer to home, after learning of a single-mother family in Nashville who were displaced by the deadly tornado, Derrick paid the family's rent for an entire year and teamed up with Ashley Furniture to donate $12k to furnish their home. He also surprised the family with suite tickets to a game, Nike gear and game-worn items. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Derrick swiftly began donating to organizations flooded by needs of food-insecure children. He provided nearly $100k to nonprofits tackling hunger. With a continued focus on social justice, he joined three other NFL players to talk with students about a film titled "Black Boys." The film focuses on social/emotional impacts of racism against Black men/boys. Through a partnership with Old Spice, Henry joined Nashville students to discuss identity, opportunity and equality.
Positive Character & a Lifestyle of Giving Back:
Derrick Henry is a shining example of servant leadership, both on and off the field. In 2021, he was named 'Tennessean of the Year' by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. This award not only reflects his on-field accomplishments, but more importantly his contributions to society, strong character and high-profile leadership. After seeing art pieces of him created by fans on Twitter, Derrick tweeted and requested fan-artists of any level to reply with photos of their creations as he wanted to support the artists. He selected multiple pieces and purchased them from the artists, allowing the fans to name their price, and ranged from young children to grown adults. When Florida high school football player Kayleb Wagner broke Henry's single-game high school rushing record, he knew it was cause for celebration. Kayleb was born amniotic band syndrome and plays without a left hand and part of his forearm. Derrick was touched and sought to have a relationship with Kayleb. Inspired by this story, Derrick invited the Wagner family to attend a game, and provided pregame passes and game-worn items. During 2022 training camp, he honored 18-year-old A.J. Knox, a young man supported by the Dream-on-3 organization. A.J. was a young football player when he was severely injured in a car accident, paralyzing his lower body and claiming his father's life. Although he was unable to play football again, A.J. was able to be on a field, spending the day with his hero, Derrick Henry. A.J. joined the team at training camp, providing an inspirational speech to Titans players, spending time with Derrick and getting his very own Titans locker complete with swag and autographed Derrick Henry gear. This outlines just a few of his contributions to the community. Derrick is a humble community leader, always looking for ways to give without seeking recognition. He is the first to lead by example and inspire coaches, teammates, fans and the Nashville community to use their energy for good. The Tennessee Titans are proud to select Derrick Henry as their 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.