Tennessee Titans star running back Derrick Henry is slated to hit NFL free agency for the first time in his brilliant eight-year career.
It also looks like the two-time NFL rushing champion will be calling another city home next season.
Henry, 30, touched on his pending free agency during an appearance on the Bussin’ With the Boys podcast (h/t Pro Football Talk). Henry did not hold back in discussing what he’s looking for in free agency.
“I want to be somewhere that, whatever happens, that gives me the best shot of winning the Super Bowl. The business side is the business side. At the end of the day, it has to make sense. I’m not just going to accept anything because it’s a long season, we put our bodies through a lot. But at the same time, I definitely want to be on a roster that can go out there and put ourselves in position and be able to win games, get in the playoffs and contend for a ring.”
Tennessee Titans star Derrick Henry on free agency
Tennessee just finished up shop on an ugly six-win season. It surprisingly fired head coach Mike Vrabel, something that did not sit well with Henry.
“Wow. Wow. I’m shocked. Coach Vrabel is a leader of men. He is a great coach and teacher. I know he will get another opportunity right away,” Henry said after Vrabel’s firing.
Related: Derrick Henry and the top 2024 NFL free agents
Derrick Henry career stats: 9,502 rushing yards, 4.7 average, 93 total TD
From 2019-23 with the Titans, Henry averaged a cool 1,441 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He still played at a high level this past season, tallying 1,381 total yards and 12 touchdowns.
If Henry’s goal is to land with a championship contender, he’ll likely have to take a below-market contract to make it work.
Henry is coming off a four-year, $50 million contract with the Titans. He’s highly unlikely to earn a long-term deal like that with the running back having hit the age of 30. We know very well how the running back market is playing out right now. On the wrong side of 30, Henry is certainly looking at a shorter-term deal.
Pure conjecture here. But a team like the Kansas City Chiefs could very well make sense for King Henry. They were linked to him ahead of the in-season NFL trade deadline.