Smith backs Henry as possible NFL rushing record successor
Derrick Henry needs 5,193 more rushing yards to match Emmitt Smith’s career record of 18,355.
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry has been identified by NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith as a potential challenger to the record he has held since surpassing Walter Payton in 2002.
Henry is currently 10th on the all-time rushing list with 13,162 yards. He needs 5,193 more to match Smith’s total of 18,355, a gap that would require several more seasons of exceptional production.
Smith told CBS Sports he believed Henry’s pursuit was possible, pointing to the running back’s size, conditioning and longevity. Henry also broke Smith’s state high school rushing record, according to Smith.
Henry has averaged 1,473 rushing yards per season since 2018, including 1,921 yards in 2024 and 1,595 in 2025. He began the 2026 season with 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts.
The three touchdowns took Henry to 125 career rushing touchdowns and moved him into third place on the NFL’s all-time list. He trails LaDainian Tomlinson and Smith in that category.
A record challenge remains uncertain. Henry is 32, and matching Smith would require either three seasons averaging at least 1,731 rushing yards or four seasons of roughly 1,300 yards. His future production, availability and career length will determine whether Smith’s assessment becomes a milestone.
