Derrick Henry may be with a new team, but he's still the same running back that's capable of bulldozing over defenders and reaching high speeds in the open field.
In Baltimore's matchup with the Bills on 'Sunday Night Football' in Week 4, Henry showcased that speed on the Ravens' first offensive play.
Breaking through for an 87-yard touchdown, Henry put his team up early.
With his massive score in Week 4, here's what to know about Henry's game-changing speed, including how fast he ran during the touchdown vs. Buffalo, where that ranks among the fastest ball carriers in 2024, and his past 40 time.
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Derrick Henry in-game speed
In his first year with his new team, Henry, now 30, has remained one of the league's top talents. He exploded for an 87-yard touchdown vs. the Bills on the Ravens' first play of the game on Sunday, the longest run in Ravens franchise history.
DERRICK FREAKIN' HENRY!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/xhYv0apEQu
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2024
Per Nate Tice, NFL Next Gen Stats clocked Henry at a maximum speed of 21.29 mph on the touchdown run.
With that run, he also recorded his third career touchdown run of 80-plus yards, putting him in conversations with two of the best players the running back position has ever seen.
Derrick Henry has 3 rushing TD of 80+ yards in his career.
— Tony Holzman-Escareno (@FrontOfficeNFL) September 30, 2024
The only players with more in @nfl history are Chris Johnson (6) and Adrian Peterson (5).#RavensFlock @NFLPlus
Perhaps the most impressive part about Henry's game-breaking speed is his 247-pound frame that also allows him to run over some of the biggest defenders in the league.
Henry is built like a defensive end, yet as fast as some of the league's top offensive weapons. It's a combination that's helped him build an excellent career with the Titans and Ravens so far. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, Henry has reached 20-plus mph as a ball carrier 27 times since 2018, which trails only Tyreek Hill, who's done it a whopping 73 times.
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How Derrick Henry compares to the NFL's fastest players in 2024
NFL Next Gen Stats tracks the fastest ball carriers of each week of football, giving fans an opportunity to see which players are the fastest with the ball in their hands.
While the database doesn't include players who didn't have the ball on a play, it does provide good insight into the league's fastest players at skill positions like wide receiver and running back.
Henry joined the early 2024 list with his run vs. the Bills, slotting in with Jerome Ford as the fourth-fastest in-game speed for a ball carrier through four weeks of play this season.
Here's a look at the updated list of the 10 fastest ball carriers in 2024, courtesy of NFL Next Gen Stats.
| Rank | Player | Team | Position | Speed (mph) | Week | Play type |
| 1 | Nico Collins | Texans | WR | 21.89 | 1 | 55-yard rec |
| 2 | Saquon Barkley | Eagles | RB | 21.66 | 3 | 65-yard rush TD |
| 3 | Xavier Worthy | Chiefs | WR | 21.46 | 4 | 54-yard rec TD |
| 4 | Jerome Ford | Browns | RB | 21.29 | 2 | 36-yard rush |
| 5 | Derrick Henry | Ravens | RB | 21.29 | 4 | 87-yard rush TD |
| 6 | Brandin Echols | Jets | CB | 21.27 | 2 | 0-yard INT |
| 7 | Alec Pierce | Colts | WR | 21.21 | 1 | 60-yard rec TD |
| 8 | Saquon Barkley | Eagles | RB | 21.17 | 4 | 59-yard rush |
| 9 | Anthony Gould | Colts | WR | 21.11 | 1 | 26-yard kickoff return |
| 10 | Ladd McConkey | Chargers | WR | 21.09 | 4 | 37-yard rec |
Derrick Henry 40 time
As a prospect at the NFL Combine in 2016, Henry ran an unofficial 4.54 40-yard dash.
Alabama RB Derrick Henry ran an unofficial 4.54 40-yard dash on his first attempt pic.twitter.com/uEA3jx0z2O
— 2024 NFL Draft (@DraftRT) February 26, 2016
While that time would've ranked 13th among running back prospects at the 2024 NFL Combine, there's a good chance that Henry's gotten faster over his time in the league as he's stuck to a strict diet and strenuous offseason workout program.
Henry has remained one of the best overall athletes in the NFL over his nine seasons, and he continues to put his speed on display on game-deciding plays.
