Derrick Henry Eyes Emmitt Smith's All-Time Rushing Record — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Derrick Henry sits 10th all-time in career rushing with 13,162 yards, trailing Emmitt Smith's record by 5,193 yards
- Emmitt Smith said he believes Henry can surpass him, noting Henry broke Smith's Alabama state high school rushing record before his NFL career
- Henry has averaged 1,473 rushing yards per season since 2018, including a 2,000-yard season in 2020 and 1,921 yards in 2024 — the best season ever for a running back over 30
- Henry opened 2026 with 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns in Week 1, climbing to third all-time in career touchdown runs
- Henry is 98 yards from passing Eric Dickerson, 501 from Jerome Bettis, 523 from LaDainian Tomlinson, and 940 from Curtis Martin — milestones likely within reach in 2026
- Henry trails only Smith (164 touchdowns) and Tomlinson (145) in career rushing touchdowns, and his Hall of Fame induction is already assured
Why it matters: To catch Smith, Henry needs either three 1,700-yard seasons or four 1,300-yard seasons — production virtually no running back has sustained into his mid-30s. His Week 1 opener of 144 yards and three touchdowns suggests no decline yet, but the yardage gap means Henry's chase depends on historic longevity, not just continued excellence.
Ask SkimNews
