Derrick Henry ties NFL record with historic 99-yard TD
Derrick Henry pounded out one of the most incredible touchdown runs in NFL history during the Tennessee Titans' 30-9 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night.
The running back scored on a 99-yard touchdown carry during the second quarter, dishing out three defender-shedding stiff-arms while trudging his way to what was arguably the most incredible touchdown of the season.
In the process, he joined Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett as the only players in NFL history with a 99-yard touchdown run, per NFL Research. He also has three 70-plus yard rushing touchdowns since 2017, the most in the league over that span. In one run, he surpassed his previous 2018 single-game high of 58 yards rushing.
.@KingHenry_2 hit the Heisman pose after that 99-yard TD 💯💪#JAXvsTEN #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/wHpFIz7MEH
— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2018
As incredible as the touchdown run was, it's the third 90-yard touchdown run in 10 days. Houston Texans running back Lamar Miller scored on a 97-yarder against the Titans in Week 12 and Washington Redskins standout Adrian Peterson had a 90-yard TD run on Monday against the Eagles.
Unfortunately for the Jaguars, Henry's big run was just a spectacular piece of what was a magnificent night for the third-year rusher. Henry finished with an Oilers/Titans franchise-record 238 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries (14.0 average per carry). The four TDs tied a franchise record, according to NFL Research.
Henry also is the first player to rush for more than 200 yards and four touchdowns on 20 or fewer carries in the Super Bowl era.
The record-tying touchdown almost didn't happen. Quarterback Marcus Mariota told reporters he actually checked into the play at the line after deciding not to go with his primary option -- a QB sneak.
"I would say very impressive," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said when asked to assess Henry's performance. "We knew we had to run the football and Derrick ran hard and the O-line did a great job, the coaches had them prepared.
"In this league you can't block them all, you can't block every guy. So you got to make one guy miss or run them over or stiff-arm them or do something. And that's what Derrick did. There were times where guys weren't blocking, he got on the edge, stiff-armed a few guys. [He] was really able to break away. And I think we're going to have to continue to get that in order to get our offense going."
Henry had few carries in the final quarter and a half of the game. He said he told Vrabel to sub him out late for Dion Lewis.
"We've all got to eat," Henry told FOX Sports' Erin Andrews after the game. "I wanted to see him get a touchdown. I got four. I care about my teammates. I want to see them get a touchdown. We work so hard throughout the week, so it's that relationship that we have. You want to see everybody eat. ... Records come and go."
The 99-yard touchdown generated plenty of admirers among the former Heisman Trophy winner's peers on Twitter:
99 bra I see you
— Cj Anderson (@cjandersonb22) December 7, 2018
Best run I’ve seen since @MoneyLynch against the Saints. https://t.co/H5oAFygS1G
— Peak Work Archie (@JoshHarris25) December 7, 2018
OMG!!!!
— Darius Slay (@_bigplayslay23) December 7, 2018
99 yards 👀😂 cmon bruh the biggest running back in the league just did that 👍🏿
— Anthony Dixon (@Boobie24Dixon) December 7, 2018
Wowwww
— Joe Haden (@joehaden23) December 7, 2018
🙄 that was embarrassing
— Sen'Derrick Marks (@senmarks) December 7, 2018
Ewwww🤮@KingHenry_2 why you doing them boyz like dat 💪🏾 !!! 🥶🥶
— OJ Howard 80 ™ (@TheRealOjHoward) December 7, 2018
Stiff arm the whole team. This is beyond me. Stiff stiff stiffy!
— Jourdan Lewis (@JourdanJD) December 7, 2018
D Henry!!!
— Taylor Heinicke (@Taylor_Heinicke) December 7, 2018
I see you 22
— Chris Johnson (@ChrisJohnson28) December 7, 2018
I think Henry just stiff armed me through the tv ...
— Benny Cunningham (@BennyCunningham) December 7, 2018
Big boy Shiiiiiiiii!!!!!! 👑 💪🏾@KingHenry_2
— Mark Ingram II (@markingram21) December 7, 2018
Don’t do em like that D Henry ❗️❗️😥
— Dante fowler (@dantefowler) December 7, 2018
Derrick Henry out here man handling people that’s crazy!
— Elijah Hood (@EliMHood) December 7, 2018
Derrick Henry's run vs. the original Beast Quake.@KingHenry_2 @MoneyLynch @Titans #JAXvsTEN #TNF pic.twitter.com/F9cMiBQIS1
— NFL Throwback (@nflthrowback) December 7, 2018
Derrick Henry may have tied Tony Dorsett's record for longest run in NFL history, but Dorsett still holds record for longest run with 10 men on the field. His 99-yarder on MNF in 1983 was without FB Ron Springs, who misunderstood the play call and ran off the field.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) December 7, 2018
Derrick Henry today:
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 7, 2018
• Most rush yds (238) in Titans franchise history
• Most rush yds (238) & rush TD (4) in TNF history
• 2nd player in NFL history with 99-yd TD run
• Fewest carries (17) in a game with 200+ rush yards & 4+ rush TD in Super Bowl era#TitanUp @Titans