Derrick Henry, considered by many as the best running back of this current generation, said his emotional goodbyes to Tennessee at the very end of this past season.
As the face of the Titans, Henry had a spectacular tenure in Nashville.
His four Pro Bowl nods and all of the accolades he achieved don’t begin to do him justice for all of the impact he had on the organization.
Despite being the #1 seed in the AFC playoffs a few years ago, Henry never sniffed a Super Bowl appearance. And with the Titans shocking decision to fire elite head coach Mike Vrabel, it became apparent that a rebuild was about to happen in Tennessee.
just remembered derrick henry ain’t a tennessee titan no more pic.twitter.com/UqyTvuqp1J
— CAIN (@rxchcain) April 4, 2024
Everyone around the league knew that Henry’s time with the Titans was finished and he would find a new team on the free agent market.
Of course, he ended up signing a two-year, $16 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens.
New Ravens RB Derrick Henry shares the story of how he wore the same purple suit to his grandmother’s funeral that he wore to sign his contract in Baltimore.
🎧 https://t.co/rC0IFyGjAW pic.twitter.com/pTfCW2bJ8y
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2024
The pairing with the Ravens seemed like a match made in heaven of sorts. After all, very few players are as well known for their physicality as Henry, and physicality is what Baltimore is all about.
Desperate to get over the hump of all of their playoff disappointments, John Harbaugh and the Ravens see the 30-year-old bruiser as a perfect piece to help quarterback Lamar Jackson and Baltimore’s run-first offensive attack.
The Ravens and The King. Coach John Harbaugh explains the variety of ways Derrick Henry can – and will be used. From our conversation at the NFL Annual Meeting in Orlando. pic.twitter.com/tQGfZSNwTK
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) March 27, 2024
However, as perfect as the pairing is, it turns out that the Ravens were far from Henry’s first choice in free agency.
Appearing on “The Pivot” podcast, Henry admitted that his preference was to join the Dallas Cowboys.
“I knew that once free agency started, I wanted to work something out [with the Ravens] if we could,” Henry stated on the podcast. “Even though I’m living in Dallas and Dallas being a perfect situation as well because we lived there and wouldn’t have to move.”
Derrick Henry was INTERESTED in signing with the Dallas #Cowboys, but they never called him.
😳😳😳
pic.twitter.com/VZc7Icn18V— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 14, 2024
Despite considering the Cowboys as a “perfect situation,” Henry indicated that they never expressed significant interest in pursuing a deal.
But Jerry said they're "all-in"
— Ben (@HowUBenFeller) April 4, 2024
Expressing contentment with his decision to join the Ravens, Henry emphasized the team’s determination to win the Super Bowl.
“I’m happy I’m going somewhere where they’re hungry for it and they’re right on the cusp,” he said.
“They’re trying to win it. And being so close and losing that game to Kansas City, I know they’re hungry, I know they’re going to come in with the right mindset and let’s get to it.”
That's insane bruh signed for cheap too they couldn't of even tried to sign him?
— Thee_Unknown420 (@Thee_Unknown6) April 4, 2024
Sure, those are kind (and true) words to say about Baltimore. But perhaps they also serve as a shot at the Cowboys as well.
After Jerry Jones proclaimed that Dallas would be going “all in” on improving the team for a Super Bowl run next season, the truth is the Boys haven’t done much of anything.
As a matter of fact, many people feel like they’ve actually regressed.
Dallas cowboys front office all offseason pic.twitter.com/Y0OOEDEmoo
— Hector Joel Garza (@HectorElOcho8) April 3, 2024
While Dallas is strapped financially, they surely could have found a way to make it work with Henry if they really wanted to.
However, by all accounts, they just simply were not interested.
In honor of Derrick Henry Day (2/22/22) here is a thread of highlights from the best running back in the NFL.
Henry takes it 99 yards to the house against the Jaguars on TNF: pic.twitter.com/lwSUtneAUU
— Titan Up Podcast (@TitanUpPod) February 22, 2022
What are your thoughts on Henry’s comments?
Did Jones and the Cowboys make a major mistake passing on him?
How much does he have left in the tank? … Will he be able to get the Ravens over the hump and win a Super Bowl?
Where do you rank him among the top running backs in football???