Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry has the stamina, body care, and running style required to potentially surpass Emmitt Smith as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, according to the Hall of Fame running back himself. Henry currently sits 10th on the all-time rushing list following a strong Week 1 start.
Emmitt Smith still holds the NFL’s premier rushing crown with 18,355 career yards, a standard he set over 15 seasons before retiring in 2004. Yet more than two decades after claiming that record, the legendary Dallas Cowboys back admits he is watching a player capable of erasing his name from the top spot. Speaking recently to DraftKings, Smith evaluated the active Baltimore star’s trajectory and physical conditioning.
“Oh yeah, I think it’s possible. Derrick Henry is a bigger back. He takes great care of his body. He’s in great shape.”
Emmitt Smith, Hall of Fame running back, via DraftKings
That endorsement follows a dominant opening weekend for Henry. Entering his age-32 season, the five-time Pro Bowler opened his 2026 campaign by racking up 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 41-23 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Those numbers pushed Henry’s career total to 13,162 rushing yards across 154 regular-season games, leaving him exactly 5,193 yards behind Smith’s historic benchmark.
High School History Shared by Smith and Henry
The connection between the two running backs extends far beyond professional accolades. Long before Smith won three Super Bowl rings in Dallas or Henry secured a Heisman Trophy at Alabama, both players set monumental rushing benchmarks at high schools in the American South.
Before entering the NFL as a first-round pick in 1989, Smith rushed for 8,804 yards at Escambia High School in Florida. Years later, Henry broke that very benchmark while starring at Yulee High School, where he finished his prep career with a staggering 12,124 rushing yards.
“Y’all don’t know this, but Derrick Henry broke my high school record. He broke my state high school record. So I believe he can do it again.”
Emmitt Smith, Hall of Fame running back, via DraftKings
That shared history gives Smith a unique perspective on his potential successor. Operating as a physical outlier at 6-foot-3 and 252 pounds, he combines the dimensions of a linebacker with elite open-field speed.
Climbing the All-Time Rushing Register
Before Henry can seriously challenge Smith’s 18,355-yard summit, he must clear a series of Hall of Fame milestones.
Gaining another 403 yards will pull him level with Jerome Bettis, while 22 more yards match LaDainian Tomlinson. Pushing past Curtis Martin requires 417 yards, meaning Henry stands a mere 940 yards away from bypassing four legendary names on the Canton register.
| Milestone Target | Hall of Fame Rusher | Yards Needed by Henry |
|---|---|---|
| 9th Place | Eric Dickerson | 97 yards |
| 8th Place | Jerome Bettis | 500 yards |
| 7th Place | LaDainian Tomlinson | 522 yards |
| 6th Place | Curtis Martin | 939 yards |
Since establishing himself as an elite starter, Henry has recorded six separate seasons with at least 1,500 yards from scrimmage, highlighted by a 2,027-yard season with the Tennessee Titans in 2020.
Evaluations from the Locker Room and Press Box
Teammates who witness Henry’s daily training habits express similar awe regarding his athletic longevity. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey noted how the running back’s production routinely confounds expectations regarding football aging curves.
As Derrick keeps getting older, you start thinking, ‘He can’t do this forever.
Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens cornerback, via ESPN
That sentiment is echoed beyond Baltimore. Armstead emphasized that while traditional greats like Barry Sanders relied on dazzling shiftiness, Henry’s relentless, unflashy accumulation of yardage and touchdowns places him in an elite historical tier.
To catch Smith, Henry will likely need to maintain elite production for at least four additional seasons beyond 2026, averaging roughly 1,300 yards per year.
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