Tennessee Titans standout running back Derrick Henry seemingly waved goodbye to the franchise and its fans in a postgame interview on the field at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sunday.
“Titans fans, I just want to say thank you for the greatest eight years of my life. The ups and downs. Y’all been there through everything. Through the adversity, watch me grow as a person and a player (and) always supporting me. I love ya’ll,” Henry said. “I love seeing the 22s in the stadium. Hopefully, I was an inspiration to all the young kids and everybody in the community. Just thank y’all so much, man. God is good. And Titan up baby.”
Henry’s comments came following Tennessee’s 28-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the regular-season finale. The Titans’ win knocked Jacksonville out of playoff contention and denied the Jags an AFC South title. Henry rushed for a game-high 153 yards and one touchdown in the Week 18 game.
There’s speculation that Sunday was Henry’s final game in a Titans uniform. The workhorse running back’s contract is set to expire this season. The Titans are on the cusp of a rebuild and could move on from the eighth-year veteran and give RB Tyjae Spears more of an opportunity in 2024.
If the 2023 season is Henry’s final in Tennessee, he leaves the franchise as its all-time leader in rushing touchdowns (90) and scrimmage TDs (93). He’s also No. 2 on the franchise’s all-time rushing list with 9,349 rushing yards, including 1,014 this season.
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The Titans drafted Henry No. 45 overall in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft out of Alabama. Henry is 30 years old, but he’s expected to be one of the top free agents available on the open market. He was selected to his fourth career Pro Bowl last week.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.