As Derrick Henry became one of the NFL’s best running backs with the Tennessee Titans, he wasn’t seen much around the NFL team’s facility between the end of the season and the start of training camp, except for making an annual appearance at mandatory minicamp.
Instead, the offseason for Henry consisted of workouts that frequently popped up as social-media videos showing the former Alabama All-American involved in a variety of tortuous exercises using weights, chains, balance balls and hills, sometimes at the same time, it seemed.
But when the Baltimore Ravens started their offseason program on Monday, Henry was there, even though participation is voluntary.
I’m the new guy,” Henry said, “so I want to make sure that I show up and I show my team and show this organization I’m here, I’m committed. I want to come work and want to put the work in and be around my teammates and develop that relationship with them and really just put the work in and work as hard as I can when I’m in the building.”
After eight seasons with the Titans, Henry joined Baltimore in free agency. He signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Ravens in March.
“It’s been fun getting to know everybody, putting the work in,” Henry said. “It’s something that I love to do. Everybody has been putting the work in all week, been working hard, just talking and getting to know each other, so it’s fun. I’m the new guy on the block, so it’s different, but it’s been fun.”
One of Henry’s reasons for signing with Baltimore is his desire to win an NFL championship. Last season, the Ravens posted the best regular-season record in the league but lost in the AFC Championship Game. Henry said the foundation for a title run starts now, 10 months before the next Super Bowl.
“I’m really wanting to hold that trophy up at the end of the year,” Henry said, “but it starts right now, putting the work in and doing all those things that qualify you to be in the position when it’s that time. Don’t want to get too hyped up or too overwhelmed when talking about that, but just putting the work in just so you’re prepared and ready to go when the season comes and be able to play at a high level.”
Attending the Ravens’ offseason program means Henry left his private trainer behind in Texas to train with Baltimore’s strength-and-conditioning staff.
“It’s been good for me,” Henry said. “I love working out, I love training, I love staying in shape, so that comes naturally to me, in terms of doing those things. Then, coming here, getting adjusted and seeing the things that they do, seeing the other guys go through it and me just doing those things. Just trying to fit in and getting to know them and them getting to know me. But still, work is work at the end of the day.”
Scott Elliott, the Baltimore strength-and-conditioning coordinator, said Henry’s work is wowing.
“When you get past just the awe factor of ‘as advertised’ everything you see,” Elliott said, “… but to see him in here running, lifting — I go back to the word intent. He attacks everything with such a high level of intent — intent with tenacity. That’s why he’s Derrick Henry. That’s why what we’re going to help him do is keep that same trajectory.
