NASHVILLE – Teammates, and fans, simply call him King.
And once again on Sunday, Titans running back Derrick Henry earned some props with another performance to remember.
But on a day when Henry racked up a career-high all-purpose yards while providing more highlight-reel plays, he stiff-armed the praise.
"I'm praising my teammates – those guys are incredible," Henry said. "Other guys make plays. Wasn't me. I just had to go out there and do my job. A lot of guys were big in critical moments, all my teammates. Just happy to be on this team, happy to be part of this organization. We're 5-0 playing good team football no matter what. No matter how the game is going, we're going to stay together and finish games. Just happy to be on this team. All my teammates are doing an incredible job, and hats off to them. Ain't nothing about me."
Henry racked up 212 yards in the team's 42-36 overtime win over the Texans, including an electrifying 94-yard touchdown run. He also scored the game-winning touchdown from five yards out, just four plays after a 53-yard reception to set things up.
"I mean, just obviously we all witnessed somebody taking a game over when we had it," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said of Henry. "He put us on his back and carried us."
With 212 yards against the Texans, Henry became the first player in NFL history to record a game with 200-plus rushing yards in a game three consecutive seasons.
The NFL's leading rusher from 2019 now has 588 yards and six touchdowns in just five games this season.
Teammates on both sides of the football sang his praises.
"He just has that rare size, strength, and speed combination," quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. "Most guys have the strengths or size and they're able to make the tough yards inside. Really run over guys and be physical. The thing that makes Derrick special is he has the speed; once he's in the open field, all right, he makes the safety miss. Now he turns on the gas and he's able to go 95.
Titans defenders Jadeveon Clowney and Jeffery Simmons are fired up to be his teammate.
"I just like to watch him run the ball, you know? I'm a big fan of his," said Clowney, a former Texan. "Especially when we were in the division you're not a real big fan, but when you get over here and meet the guy, get to know him, I think I became one of his biggest fans since I've been here. I just like to see him play. He's an exciting player to watch. You never know what's gonna happen – you step up, he runs through you, breakaway speed. He's got the whole total package and I've got to give hats off to the whole offensive line up front. They contribute to his game. It comes from those guys, the way they work at practice and execute in the game."
Added Simmons: "Props to Derrick man, he's a workhorse. Personally, I don't think anyone works harder than Derrick and it pays off whenever we play. Props to him. That guy, he's the king."
As for Henry, a Heisman Trophy winner in college at the University of Alabama, he explained why he's never been big on bragging, or celebrating personal success.
"Because it can be here today and gone tomorrow," Henry said. "I'm tremendously blessed. God has blessed me tremendously, me and my family, so I'm appreciative every day I get to wake up and live my dream. A lot of guys don't get an opportunity like this so I'm just thankful, man. My grandmother always told me to be humble. All my family. Just work hard and do your job and everything else will take care of itself."
