Derrick Henry made history five years ago today
NASHVILLE — It was exactly five years ago today, December 6th of 2018 when Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry cemented his place in NFL history with a 99-yard touchdown run against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was a Week 14 matchup at Nissan Stadium. Thursday Night Football between two division rivals. The Titans entered the […]
NASHVILLE — It was exactly five years ago today, December 6th of 2018 when Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry cemented his place in NFL history with a 99-yard touchdown run against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It was a Week 14 matchup at Nissan Stadium. Thursday Night Football between two division rivals. The Titans entered the evening 6-6 on the season and fighting for a spot in the playoffs.
Up to that point, Henry had just two 100-yard games in his NFL career. But with one handoff from Marcus Mariota, "King Henry" was born.
After taking the handoff five yards deep in the Titans' end zone, Henry found a hole to his left and bounced outside with room to run. It was excellent job by Tennessee's offensive line to give Derrick space, but what happened next was all on number 22.
Henry raced up the left sideline of Nissan Stadium stiff-arming three different Jacksonville defenders while somehow staying on his feet. With each Jaguars player that henry evaded, the crowd in Nashville got even louder as they cheered Henry all the way down the field for the touchdown.
"We got Derrick 4-5 yards. He got 95 yards after that," said former Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan in an interview with NFL Films. "It was probably the best running play I've ever seen in my entire life."
During Wednesday's press conference, I asked Titans head coach Mike Vrabel what he could recall from that moment five years ago.
"I would say yeah, that's crazy to think that that's been five years," said Vrabel. "Just that he's still running, he's still running, I think he's getting tackled, he's still running. It felt like the play lasted five years. Tremendous individual effort. Great job by everybody to get involved early to get him going. And then, what he did after that was on his own. Time flies."
Henry finished that night's game with 238 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Titans won 30-9 in what proved to be the turning point in Derrick Henry's Hall of fame career.
Since that memorable night in December of 2018, Henry has run for 100 or more yards in an astonishing 34 games. In four of those, he surpassed 200 rushing yards. King Henry has also had a 2,000 yards season, won the AP Offensive Player of the Year Award, and been selected to three Pro-Bowls since then.
There is an argument to be made that Henry's 99-yard run, just as Taylor Lewan said, is the greatest running play in history. Outside of being tied for the longest run in NFL history and featuring three highlight reel stiff arms, this run marks the exact moment a football legend was born.
Happy Derrick Henry Day to all the Titans fans that celebrate. Remember to enjoy every game, carry, and yard that Henry still has left in a Titans uniform.
Titans firing of Craig Aukerman could mean more is coming
The Titans are setting a new standard.
