OWINGS MILLS — When Ravens running back Derrick Henry eclipsed 10,000 yards rushing for his career last week, he etched his name among the all-time greatest players in the NFL.
Henry ranks 32nd among the NFL all-time rushing leaders with 10,074 yards. Emmitt Smith ranks No. 1 with (18,355), followed by Walter Payton (16,726), Frank Gore (16,000), Barry Sanders (15,269) and Adrian Peterson (14,918).
Smith, who spent 15 years with the Dallas Cowboys and two with the Arizona Cardinals, took time to congratulate Henry on the milestone. Smith and Henry hail from Florida.
“I just want to say congratulations on getting into the 10,000-yard club,” Smith said in a video. “That is a feat that not many men have crossed, and you have represented the state of Florida, just like your boy did, and I love it. And you’re wearing those double deuces. I love that, too. So congratulations, my friend. I want to celebrate you right now because you deserve it. Not many people are going to get there, but you have made it.”
Henry is also the 12th player in NFL history with at least 10,000 rushing yards and 100 rushing touchdowns in a career, joining Hall of Famers Marcus Allen, Jim Brown, Marshall Faulk, Franco Harris, Curtis Martin, Walter Payton, John Riggins, Barry Sanders, LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson and Smith.
Henry was appreciative of Smith’s comments.
“Emmitt is just a legend; he’s like the G.O.A.T of Florida,” Henry said. “All of the kids who play running back look up to Emmitt – he’s like Michael Jordan to us. That was very cool, and I appreciate him taking out his time to make that video.”
Henry is the first non-rookie and fourth player overall in NFL history to record a rushing touchdown in each of his first five games with a team, joining Alan Ameche (Baltimore Colts, 1955), Joe Cribbs (Buffalo, 1980) and Robert Edwards (New England, 1998).
Henry is not surprised that he leads the NFL in rushing with 572 yards rushing at age 30.
“If I didn’t, then I wouldn’t be playing,” he said. “I always have high standards for myself and what I’m capable of doing.”