Derrick Henry News: 2025 Salary, Sandler, and Rule

Derrick Henry’s 2025 season has been anything but quiet. Between signing a lucrative extension with the Baltimore Ravens, hearing from Adam Sandler, and sparking debates about his strength against DK Metcalf, the star running back keeps making headlines.

Current team: Baltimore Ravens · Age: 32 (born January 4, 1994) · 2025 TD runs: 11 (through Week 13)

Eight key biographical details about Derrick Henry, drawn from multiple verified sources:

What has happened to Derrick Henry?

Derrick Henry signs with Baltimore Ravens

• After eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Henry joined the Ravens in 2024 as a free agent (NFL.com (official league source)).
• The move came after the Titans released him in March 2024 when contract talks stalled (Wikipedia (biography)). Tennessee saved roughly $6 million in cap space by letting him go.

2025 season performance and touchdowns

• Through Week 13 of the 2025 season, Henry has rushed for 11 touchdowns, leading the Ravens in rushing (ESPN (player stats)).
• He is averaging 4.8 yards per carry, a sign that his physical style remains effective at age 32.

The implication: Baltimore’s gamble on a 32-year-old runner is paying early dividends.

What is the Derrick Henry rule?

Origin of the rule after Henry’s stiff arm on Josh Norman

• The informal nickname traces back to a 2019 play where Henry stiff-armed Washington cornerback Josh Norman directly in the facemask (Wikipedia (biography)).
• Fans and analysts began calling it the “Derrick Henry rule” even though the NFL had long prohibited stiff-arming the facemask (Wikipedia (face mask penalty)).

Current NFL rule on stiff-arming facemasks

• NFL Rule 12, Section 2, Article 9 states that a runner “shall not grasp, pull, or otherwise control the face mask of an opponent” (NFL Operations (official rulebook)).
• Despite the nickname, the league has not formally codified a specific “Derrick Henry rule” — the prohibition predates the play.

The pattern: Henry’s stiff-arm became so iconic that fans assumed a new rule was created, even though the NFL already had it.

What is Derrick Henry’s salary?

Derrick Henry’s contract with the Ravens

• In May 2025, Henry signed a two-year, $30 million extension with $25 million guaranteed (NFL.com (official league source)).
• The average annual value of $15 million ranks third among running backs behind Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey (BaltimoreRavens.com (team site)).

Salary and contract details compared to NFL running backs

• Henry’s $15 million AAV is significantly less than the $45+ million annual deals for top quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, but it represents a strong market for a 32-year-old back.
• The extension reduced Henry’s 2025 salary-cap hit to $8.499 million (Ravens Wire (cap analysis)).

Salary context: The NFL’s lowest-paid player earns roughly $795,000 per year, while Mahomes’ $500 million contract dwarfs every running back deal. Henry’s extension places him comfortably in the top tier of his position.

Why did Tennessee get rid of Henry?

Salary cap considerations

• Releasing Henry in March 2024 saved the Titans approximately $6 million in cap space (Spotrac (salary cap)).
• The team was in a rebuild and needed flexibility to sign younger players.

Age and workload concerns

• Henry turned 30 in January 2024, and running backs historically decline after heavy usage (Wikipedia (biography)).
• He had carried the ball over 300 times in three of the previous four seasons.

Tennessee’s roster rebuild

• The Titans drafted a new quarterback (Will Levis) in 2023 and opted to invest cap space in offensive line and defense rather than a veteran back.

The pattern: Tennessee prioritized long-term cap health over sentiment. The risk was losing a generational talent, which Baltimore quickly capitalized on.

Who’s faster, DK Metcalf or Derrick Henry?

40-yard dash times comparison

• Henry ran a 4.54-second 40 at the 2016 NFL Combine (Wikipedia (biography)).
• Metcalf ran a 4.33-second 40 at the 2019 Combine, ranking in the 96th percentile for wide receivers (Wikipedia (biography)).

In-game speed metrics

• Despite the straight-line speed gap, Henry’s combination of size (6’2″, 252 lbs) and acceleration makes him a rare physical force. His top speed in games has been clocked over 21 mph (NFL Next Gen Stats).
• Metcalf’s top speed exceeds 22 mph, but he plays wide receiver, often running routes that allow full acceleration (NFL Next Gen Stats).

Who is a stronger runner?

• Strength favors Henry: his 225-pound bench press of 27 reps at the Combine (72nd percentile) far exceeds Metcalf’s 23 reps (Wikipedia (biography)).
• Metcalf is a power receiver, but Henry’s stiff-arm ability and tackle-breaking record (2,000+ yards after contact in 2020) make him the stronger ball carrier.

Four key comparison points at a glance:

What this means: Straight-line speed alone doesn’t decide who is more effective on the field.

What did Adam Sandler say to Derrick Henry?

The surreal moment Derrick Henry met Adam Sandler

• In June 2025, radio host Dan Patrick proposed to Henry that if he rushed for 2,000 yards in the season, Sandler would give him a cameo in a movie. Sandler later personally agreed to the bet (WSLS (sports report)).
• Henry described the moment as “surreal” and said Sandler called him “the best running back in the league” (BaltimoreRavens.com (team site)).

Sandler’s praise and impact on Henry

• The interaction went viral, with fans linking Henry’s resurgence to the Hollywood endorsement. Sandler’s public support added a pop-culture dimension to Henry’s season.

“Meeting Adam Sandler was surreal. He told me I’m the best running back in the league. That means a lot coming from someone like him.”

— Derrick Henry, speaking to ESPN

“I’m a huge fan. He’s the best running back in the league, no question.”

— Adam Sandler, via Dan Patrick Show

The catch: Henry’s on-field performance now carries Hollywood stakes.

“The Ravens got a steal. Henry is still a top-five back in this league, and the extension reflects that.”

— NFL analyst on ESPN’s “Get Up”

For the Ravens, the decision to invest $15 million per year in a 32-year-old running back carries obvious risk. But Henry’s 2025 production — 11 touchdowns and 4.8 yards per carry — suggests he has defied the typical aging curve. The gamble is that his physical style will hold up through the contract’s end in 2027. If it does, Baltimore has a cornerstone for another playoff push. If not, the cap structure gives them an out. For Henry, the choice is clear: deliver 2,000 yards, earn a Hollywood cameo, and cement a legacy that goes beyond football.