At the Pro Bowl, RB Derrick Henry Not Stressing About His Future, and Changes With Titans

Feb 02, 2024 at 12:39 PM

Jim Wyatt

Senior Writer/Editor

ORLANDO – Derrick Henry is living the good life here at the Pro Bowl.

On Friday, the sun was shining down on the Titans running back at Camping World Stadium, where he was surrounded by some of the NFL's greats at practice.

Later in the day, he had plans to take his three-year-old daughter to Disney World for the first time.

"It's special," Henry said from his fourth Pro Bowl. "It's always fun to be around some of the game's elite, and getting to spend some time with them, getting to know them. You get to hang out and have fun at these events.

"And also, I get to bring my family out here to experience all this."

Henry, 30, said he has a different perspective these days.

"As I get older," Henry said, "I also think about how all this doesn't last forever. The older you get, the more you realize the time is starting to get a little more limited than when you were younger. So, you really have to enjoy it all as much as you can."

Henry, however, keeps getting the same question at every turn: Will he be back with the Titans in 2024?

"I've been getting that question since I've been here," Henry said with a smile. "And I tell them: We'll see what happens. I have been a Tennessee Titan my whole career. I love Tennessee – that's all I have known. I love the fans. This is the first time I've been a free agent, so we'll see what happens.

"And I'll leave everything else up to God."

RB Derrick Henry @KingHenry_2 talks #Titans, new HC Brian Callahan, his uncertain future and more at the #ProBowlGames on Friday.

🎥 WATCH pic.twitter.com/mVs0B4x6El
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) February 2, 2024

Plenty of changes have taken place since the end of the 2023 season.

The Titans have a new head coach in Brian Callahan, after he was hired following Mike Vrabel's dismissal.

"I've heard good things about him," Henry said of Callahan. "I've heard a lot of great things about Brian for sure. It's an exciting time for the organization right now, and I wish everybody all the best."

Among those who've told Henry about Callahan: Peyton Manning, who spent time with Callahan with the Broncos.

"Peyton calls him Cally, and I'm pretty sure that's what he wants everyone to call him," Henry said. "Peyton said he's a great coach, and that I would love him, and he would love me. It was good to hear him and Peyton had a special relationship, because I'm a young Peyton Manning, so I took that very serious."

Both Callahan and general manager Ran Carthon have said publicly the team hasn't closed the door on Henry's return.

Henry, who ran for 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns in his eighth season with the team in 2023, said the change in coach doesn't impact his desire to return, if he's wanted.

Henry's contract is set to expire in March.

"Any player would want to play for the organization they started with their whole career," Henry said. "I think that's a very unique and special situation, for that to be able happen. The whole (coaching) change, I don't know all the details or what they're thinking, or the plan for the team, or how they want to move forward as an organization. So we'll have to see what happens, and I'll leave it up to God."

As Henry walked off the practice field on Friday, he was hardly stressing about it.

After all, he was on the way to Disney World.

"I'm not stressing," Henry said. "I am just enjoying every single moment, and whenever it is time to make a decision, we'll do that. But right now I am just having fun, and enjoying life right now."

#Titans RB @KingHenry_2 signs autographs for fans at the Pro Bowl on Friday. pic.twitter.com/1a6BmIYWnM
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) February 2, 2024

1 / 21

2 / 21

Running back Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans competes in the dodgeball competition at the 2024 Pro Bowl Games skills challenge on February 01, 2024 in Orlando, FL. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

3 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

4 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

5 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

6 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

7 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

8 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

9 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

10 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

11 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

12 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

13 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

14 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

15 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

16 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

17 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

18 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

19 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

20 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

21 / 21

Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

Advertising

This Ad will close in 3

Related Content

news

Three Ravens Defenders, Jaguars Tight End, Give Insight on New Coordinators for the Titans From the Pro Bowl

The Titans will have a pair of new coordinators in 2024, as the team announced former Ravens assistant Dennard Wilson as defensive coordinator, and former Jaguars assistant Nick Holz as the team's offensive coordinator.

news

From the Pro Bowl: Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase High on New Titans HC Brian Callahan

Chase has earned three consecutive Pro Bowl trips while becoming the eighth player in NFL history to reach 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three career seasons, including 1,216 yards on a career-high 100 receptions in 2023.

news

At the Pro Bowl, Peyton Manning Talks Titans, From HC Brian Callahan to QB Will Levis to RB Derrick Henry – and He Told a Great Story About the Late Frank Wycheck

Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning is coaching the AFC here at the Pro Bowl, which means he's Henry's coach.

news

Peyton Manning Gives New Titans GM Ran Carthon, His Former Teammate, the Tennessee Seal of Approval While Also Praising Former Vols Josh Dobbs, Hendon Hooker – and Voice of the Titans Mike Keith

The former University of Tennessee quarterback and Carthon go way back – they were teammates with the Indianapolis Colts from 2004-06.

news

From the Pro Bowl: Titans RB Derrick Henry, Raiders RB Josh Jacobs Become Teammates, and Buddies Built By Bama

The NFL's top two rushers from 2022, who played at the University of Alabama, were teammates at the Pro Bowl Games.

news

From the Pro Bowl: Titans DL Jeffery Simmons Gives New GM Ran Carthon a Big Thumbs Up After Recent Meeting

Simmons has been one of the team's most dominant players since being selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He's at the Pro Bowl for the second straight year.

news

From the Pro Bowl: Titans Center Ben Jones Cherishing Every Moment at First Pro Bowl, While Pondering What's Next

After 11 NFL seasons, 182 games played, countless bumps and bruises, and plenty of ups and downs, the Titans center is here at the Pro Bowl Games, surrounded by the game's best players.

news

Titans Center Ben Jones Named to Pro Bowl Roster

Jones on Monday was named to the Pro Bowl roster as a replacement for Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, who is headed to the Super Bowl.

news

What the Titans Did in Sunday's Pro Bowl

The AFC beat the NFC 41-35 in the Pro Bowl on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium is Las Vegas. Four Titans – Kevin Byard, Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry and Rodger Saffold – played in the game, coached by Titans and AFC head coach Mike Vrabel and his staff.

news

Sights and Sounds From Sunday's Pro Bowl

The Titans have four players at the Pro Bowl - Kevin Byard, Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry and Rodger Saffold. Titans coach Mike Vrabel and his staff are also coaching the AFC team.

news

Titans Guard Rodger Saffold Proud of His First Pro Bowl Appearance After 12 Seasons

The 2021 season was Saffold's third season in Tennessee after playing nine seasons for the Rams, who selected him in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He has registered 157 starts over his 12-year NFL career.