Derrick Henry Climbs to No. 7 on Nfl’s Career Rushing List

WHO:

Newsweek - Derrick Henry is a Baltimore Ravens running back who reached seventh place on the NFL career rushing-yards list.

NBC Sports - Henry passed Jerome Bettis and LaDainian Tomlinson, moving from ninth to seventh in career rushing yards.

NBC Sports - Curtis Martin is sixth on the list; Emmitt Smith holds the career rushing record.

Newsweek - Henry could pass Marshall Faulk for fourth in career touchdowns by a running back.

vikings.com - Adrian Peterson is Minnesota’s all-time leading rusher and ranks fifth in career rushing yards. Ten former opponents interviewed by vikings.com described him as an exceptional player.

WHAT:

Newsweek - Henry passed Tomlinson for seventh in career rushing yards during Baltimore’s loss to Jacksonville.

NBC Sports - Henry gained 51 rushing yards in the first half, passing Bettis, whose total was 13,662 yards, and Tomlinson, whose total was 13,684.

NBC Sports - Henry entered the game with 13,650 career rushing yards and 632 rushing yards for the season.

NBC Sports - Martin ranks sixth with 14,101 career rushing yards.

NBC Sports - Henry averaged 1,578 rushing yards over the previous four seasons and 85 rushing yards per game over his career.

NBC Sports - Smith’s career rushing record is 18,355 yards. Smith said he believed Henry had a chance to break it.

NBC Sports - Henry would need to play another three to four years to break Smith’s record; Henry turns 33 in January, while Smith was 35 in his final season.

vikings.com - Peterson’s career included 40 runs of at least 15 yards in 2012 and 15 rushing touchdowns of at least 60 yards. His six 60-yard runs exceed the totals of Jim Brown, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry by six, the most since 1925.

vikings.com - Peterson said he was “Resilient. Determined. Passionate. Physical,” and added, “Just relentless. Just fearless.”

vikings.com - Barry Sanders had 37 runs of at least 15 yards in 1997, the second-highest single-season total dating to 1977.

vikings.com - Ten opponents described Peterson as “different.” Their accounts included statistics from matchups, memories of his physical running style, and praise for his ability to combine power, speed and elusiveness.

vikings.com - Jared Allen said Peterson could run between the tackles and reach the edge; Allen recalled forcing two fumbles on consecutive snaps in their first meeting, though replay overturned the first ruling. Peterson still totaled 150 yards in that game.

vikings.com - Lance Briggs recalled Peterson’s 224 rushing yards, three touchdowns and 11.2 yards per carry in a game at Soldier Field, plus a 53-yard kickoff return that set up a game-winning field goal.

vikings.com - Thomas Davis called Peterson “ferocious” and said he ran as if every handoff could become a touchdown.

vikings.com - Harrison Smith cited Peterson’s average of 6.45 yards per carry against eight-man defensive fronts during his MVP season, compared with 6.0 yards per carry overall.

vikings.com - Stephen Tulloch said Peterson was not stoppable, but defenses could slow him down and make another player beat them.

vikings.com - Peterson is scheduled to enter the Vikings Ring of Honor at halftime of a Monday game and become eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2027.

vikings.com - The article identifies Jared Allen as a 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee and a 2022 Vikings Ring of Honor inductee.

vikings.com - Peterson’s former opponents included Allen, Briggs, Davis, Michael Griffin, Clint Ingram, Derrick Johnson, Curtis Lofton, Sims, Smith and Tulloch. The article provides career and head-to-head statistics for these players.

WHERE:

Newsweek - Henry reached seventh during Baltimore’s game against Jacksonville.

NBC Sports - Henry’s milestone came during a Ravens home game against Jacksonville.

vikings.com - Peterson is associated with the Minnesota Vikings; the article was filed from Eagan, Minnesota.

vikings.com - The article recounts Peterson’s 2007 game against Kansas City, 2007 game at Chicago’s Soldier Field, and 2008 game at Soldier Field.

WHY:

NBC Sports - Henry’s 51 first-half rushing yards were enough to pass Bettis and Tomlinson on the all-time list.

vikings.com - Opponents attributed Peterson’s difficulty to tackle to his power, speed, vision, balance, and ability to evade or run through defenders.

HOW:

NBC Sports - Henry advanced from ninth to seventh by passing Bettis and Tomlinson in career rushing yards.

vikings.com - Peterson’s former opponents described preparing to contain him through gap discipline, swarming at the point of attack, and slowing him down rather than expecting to stop him.

Derrick Henry climbed to seventh on the NFL’s career rushing list during Baltimore’s loss to Jacksonville. His first-half yards moved him past LaDainian Tomlinson and Jerome Bettis, with Curtis Martin next. Meanwhile, former opponents praised Vikings legend Adrian Peterson’s power, speed, and elusive running style.