How fast is Derrick Henry? Ravens RB shows blazing speed on 87-yard TD run against Bills

Derrick Henry may be on a new team, but he’s still the same running back capable of overpowering defenders and reaching high speeds in the open field.

In Baltimore’s matchup with the Bills on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 4, Henry showcased that speed on the Ravens’ first offensive play.

Henry broke through for an 87-yard touchdown, giving his team an early lead.

Given his massive scoring output in Week 4, here’s what you should know about Henry’s game-changing speed, including his running speed in the touchdown against Buffalo, where he ranks among the fastest ball carriers in 2024, and his time in the final 40 minutes.

MORE: Should the Colts start Joe Flacco instead of Anthony Richardson?

Derrick Henry speed in the game

Even in his first year with his new team, Henry, now 30, remained one of the top talents in the league. On the Ravens’ first play of the game on Sunday, he scored an 87-yard touchdown against the Bills, the longest run in Ravens franchise history.

DERRICK FREAKIN’ HENRY!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/xhYv0apEQu

– NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2024

According to Nate Tice, NFL Next Gen Stats had Henry clocking in at a top speed of 21.29 mph on the touchdown run.

That run also marked his third 80-yard touchdown run of his career, putting him in conversation with two of the best players the running back position has ever seen.

Derrick Henry has three 80-yard rushing touchdowns in his career.

The only players with more in it @nfl History is Chris Johnson (6) and Adrian Peterson (5).#RavensFlock @NFLPlus

— Tony Holzman-Escareno (@FrontOfficeNFL) September 30, 2024

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Henry’s game-breaking speed is his 247-pound frame, which also allows him to run over some of the league’s biggest defenders.

Henry is built like a defensive end, but as fast as some of the league’s best offensive weapons. This combination has helped him build a stellar career with the Titans and Ravens so far. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Henry has exceeded 20 mph as a ball carrier 27 times since 2018, trailing only Tyreek Hill, who has done it a whopping 73 times.

NFL Headquarters: Live NFL Scores | Updated NFL Rankings | Complete NFL schedule

How Derrick Henry compares to the NFL’s fastest players in 2024

NFL Next Gen Stats tracks the fastest ball carriers each week of football, giving fans the opportunity to see which players are the fastest with the ball in their hands.

While the database doesn’t include players who didn’t have the ball on a play, it does provide good insight into the league’s fastest players at skill positions like wide receiver and running back.

Henry joins the list with his run against the Bills in early 2024, tying him with Jerome Ford as the fourth-fastest in-game velocity for a ball carrier through four weeks of play this season.

Here’s a look at the updated list of the 10 fastest ball carriers in 2024, courtesy of NFL Next Gen Stats.

Derrick Henry 40 times

As a candidate for the NFL Combine in 2016, Henry ran an unofficial 40-yard dash of 4.54 meters.

Alabama RB Derrick Henry ran an unofficial 4.54 40-yard dash on his first attempt pic.twitter.com/uEA3jx0z2O

– NFL Draft 2024 (@DraftRT) February 26, 2016

While that time would have ranked 13th among running back prospects at the 2024 NFL Combine, there’s a good chance Henry has gotten faster over his time in the league as he adheres to a strict diet and strenuous outside training regimen the season lasts.

Henry remains one of the NFL’s best overall athletes through his nine seasons and continues to showcase his speed on game-winning plays.