Derrick Henry, the Tennessee Titans’ sole representative at the Pro Bowl, is open to returning. He even interviewed incoming coach Brian Callahan with Peyton Manning.
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry is enjoying the sun and fun in Orlando as he prepares for the 2024 Pro Bowl.
Henry, a four-time Pro Bowler, is used to the attention, but this year he has the added benefit of his impending free agency.
Henry, speaking with Jim Wyatt of tennesseetitans.com, said he is getting a lot of questions about where he will play next season.
“We’ll see what happens,” Henry explained. “I’ve been a Tennessee Titan my entire career. Tennessee has always been my home. I adore the fans. This is my first time being a free agent, so we’ll see what happens. And I will leave everything else to God.”
Henry reached 30 a month ago, which is often when running backs begin to diminish in their performance. But Henry carried for more than 150 yards in the Titans’ season finale. Titans coach Brian Callahan still believes Henry has more to offer in a Titans uniform.
“A player like Derrick Henry fits into every offense,” Callahan stated. “He’s been an outstanding player. He has been the franchise’s face for quite some time. When you think of the Tennessee Titans, Derrick Henry comes to mind. If he is open to a return, it works for us. “I’ll never say no to good players.”
Henry stated that he is willing to returning.
“Any athlete would like to continue playing for the organization where they began their career. I believe that is a really rare and special situation in which that might occur,” Henry stated. “I don’t know all the details about the coaching change, what they’re thinking, the team’s plan, or how the organization intends to move ahead. So we’ll have to see what occurs, and I’ll leave the outcome to God.”
Henry spoke with Peyton Manning, one of the Pro Bowl coaches, as part of his due diligence investigation on Callahan.
“Peyton said he’s a great coach, and that I would love him and he would love me,” he remarked. “It was good to hear him and Peyton had a special relationship, because I’m a young Peyton Manning, so I took that very serious.”
In eight seasons with the Titans, Henry won Offensive Player of the Year, four Pro Bowl choices, and one first-team All-Pro accolade. Despite his displeasure with his performance in the Titans’ 6-11 season this year, Henry finished with 1,167 running yards and 12 touchdowns in 17 games. He also had 28 receptions for 214 yards.
“There’s no offensive system that would say we don’t want Derrick Henry,” Callahan remarked on January 27. “We feel there’s still gas in the tank. “I would never turn down a player like that.”
Henry, one of 24 Titans free agents, earned $12.5 million last season, the final year of a four-year, $50 million contract.
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