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Even though Derrick Henry appeared to be giving a farewell speech to Tennessee Titans fans after the final game of the 2023 regular season, the door isn’t closed for the four-time Pro Bowl running back to return.
New Titans head coach Brian Callahan said on 102.5 The Game in Nashville that Henry “fits into any offense” and he’s “never going to reject good players.”
TURRON DAVENPORT @TDavenport_NFL
“A player like Derrick Henry fits into any offense. If he’s open to a return, that fits for us. I’m never going to reject good players. There’s no offense that would say I wouldn’t went Derrick Henry.”
–#Titans HC Brian Callahan on Derrick Henry via @1025TheGame pic.twitter.com/J1TYTYYCuY
Henry directly addressed the crowd at Nissan Stadium by thanking them “for the greatest eight years of my life” following the Titans’ 28-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 7.
NFL @NFL
“@Titans fans… Thank you for the greatest 8 years of my life.” 👑💙 @KingHenry_2 pic.twitter.com/3CpEHq4PiC
During a recent appearance on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast (h/t Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk), Henry said his top priority this offseason will be finding a team that gives him the “best shot” of winning a Super Bowl.
The farewell speech from Henry was the start of what now feels like a reset for the Titans. Callahan was hired as their new head coach on Wednesday after Mike Vrabel was fired on Jan. 9.
Henry and Ryan Tannehill will both be free agents this offseason. Will Levis seems likely to enter 2024 as the starting quarterback after showing some promise in his nine games played this season.
Callahan is smart to keep the door open if Henry wants to return, but paying a 30-year-old running back is often a risky proposition. He’s led the NFL in rushing attempts four times in the past five seasons, but his yards per carry has dipped from 5.2 from 2019-20 to 4.3 over the past three seasons.
Henry has spent his entire career with the Titans since being a second-round draft pick in 2016. He led the league in rushing yards in back-to-back seasons in 2019 and 2020. His 8,268 rushing yards since 2018 are 1,757 more than any other running back during that span (Nick Chubb: 6,511).
