Derrick Henry’s Stellar 2024 Season: Stats and Milestones

Derrick Henry, the 30-year-old running back for the Baltimore Ravens, is having a phenomenal 2024 season, defying the conventional wisdom that running backs decline significantly by their 30s. Through the first nine games of the season, Henry has amassed impressive statistics that place him at the top of the league.

Henry leads the NFL in rushing yards per game with an average of 116.9 yards, and he is second only to Saquon Barkley in this category. He has rushed for 1,052 yards, making him the first running back to reach the 1,000-yard mark this season. Additionally, Henry has scored 11 rushing touchdowns and 13 total touchdowns, contributing significantly to the Ravens’ powerful offense.

Henry’s efficiency is also noteworthy, with a 6.3 yards per carry average, the second-highest in the NFL behind Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions. This season marks his third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaign and the sixth of his career. His only season under 1,000 yards since 2018 was 2021, when he was limited to eight games due to an injury.

Henry is on pace to achieve remarkable milestones, including a potential 2,000-yard rushing season. Although he would need to average 118.5 rushing yards per game for the remainder of the season to reach this mark, his current pace suggests he could fall just short with 1,987 yards over 17 games. This would still be an impressive feat, especially considering he is already among the top rushers in NFL history, having surpassed 10,000 career rushing yards earlier in the season.

His performance has also elevated the game of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is chasing his third MVP trophy. Henry’s contribution to the team’s offense has been crucial, making him a strong candidate for another rushing title and potentially even the NFL MVP award, although he faces stiff competition from top quarterbacks like Jackson, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes.

In terms of historical context, Henry is poised to become the third player in NFL history to win three rushing triple crowns, leading the league in carries, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns. He would join Hall of Famers Steve Van Buren and Jim Brown in this exclusive club, and he would be the first to achieve this feat at age 30 or older.