Trading the Titans baby blue for the Ravens purple was no easy move for this superstar running back, but a quick reminder of where he came from made the adjustment smoother. Derrick Henry’s grandmother took care of him for most of his life, so when he took the stage in Baltimore wearing a violet suit, it was an homage to the woman and family that helped him get to where he is today. 

King Henry sat down with Ryan, Channing and Fred to talk about his iconic career and the moments that shaped the player, and person, he is today. From high school records to a Heisman Trophy at Alabama, Derrick Henry has excelled at each level of the sport, but he provides insight on how hard that truly was. 

The era of the old-school running back has seemingly been dismissed, but Derrick’s running style has provided results since 2018. The big-time player touched on the state of the position in the NFL as well as the importance of teams running the ball. 

At Yulee High School in Florida, Derrick put up rushing stat lines that don’t even seem real. Whether it is rushing the ball 57 times in one game or putting up over 500 scrimmage yards in a single performance, the game came easy to him. That changed when he got to college. 

The Alabama Crimson Tide have been a running back factory under Nick Saban, with players like Mark Ingram, Eddie Lacy and Trent Richardson making their mark. Yet most people, including the Pivot guys, point to Derrick as the best Bama back ever. Henry talked about his recruiting process and the adversity he faced under Saban before flourishing during his 2015 Heisman Trophy-winning season. 

The second round pick to the Titans was stuck behind Pro Bowler DeMarco Murray for two seasons, and when he finally got his opportunity to become a starter, he did not prepare the way he should have. One day in 2018, though, he spotted a bunch of butterflies during practice, his grandmother’s favorite, giving him the extra motivation he needed and sparking one of the best 5-year runs of any player this century.

He may be humble, but Derrick Henry turns into a machine on the field, running through, around or over any defender in his way. He has gone through dark times at different stages in his life, coming out stronger from each one. Although his grandmother passed away in 2016, he still carries the memories and lessons she instilled in him. 

So when he puts on the Baltimore purple this fall, it will mean much more than just a game. 

New episodes drop on Tuesdays at 12 p.m. ET and Fridays at 3:30 p.m ET on YouTube, with audio available on all streaming platforms including Apple, Spotify and Amazon.

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