Derrick Henry’s relentless workout routine already justifies his extension

Derrick Henry didn’t have to prove much of anything when he walked into the Baltimore Ravens facility this week. He’d already led the league in rushing touchdowns, rewrote Pro Football's record books, and earned the richest contract ever given to a running back over 30 years old.

But when it came time to show up for his press conference, Henry didn’t just wake up 20 minutes before—he worked out first... on a casual 30 minutes of sleep... because of course, he did.

“I got in here early this morning and worked out,” Henry told reporters. “I just had some flight trouble… bad weather in Dallas. I got home at 4:45 in the morning, and I wanted to get here at six, so I thought, ‘I’m just going to stay up and just get here and go work out.’”

If that sounds borderline, clinically insane, it's probably because it is. But that’s just who King Henry is. Even one week after the devastating playoff loss in Buffalo, he was already back in the gym: “My mind was going crazy,” he said. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to go work out,’ so I just came back here and started working out. I couldn’t wait anymore. I couldn’t hold off.” This guy is all gas, no breaks. And never takes a day off.

Henry’s work ethic sets the tone for everything Baltimore wants to be

The Ravens extended Henry as a reflection of the value he still provides—on the field and in the locker room. This is a player who ran for nearly 2,000 yards last season, averaged a career-high 5.9 yards per carry, and steamrolled his way to 16 touchdowns. He also led the league in rushing grade and forced missed tackles.

But the part you can’t quantify is the fact that at 31 years old, he’s still wired like an undrafted rookie trying to earn a job.

Willie Taggart, Baltimore’s assistant head coach and running backs coach, said it best: “He comes in, and every play, Derrick wants to know what he did well and what he didn’t do well. He wants to know right then and there.”

That mentality bleeds into everything. It sets the tone in the running back room. It sets the tone in the locker room. And it’s exactly why the Ravens didn’t blink when giving him a two-year, $30 million extension with $25 million guaranteed.

There’s nothing ceremonial about Henry being in Baltimore. He’s not here for a final ride or a farewell tour. He’s here to lead, to set a standard, and to help this team win something it hasn’t in over a decade. You can talk about numbers, accolades, or even his place in history—but when a guy’s showing up on 30 minutes of sleep just to lift weights, the message is pretty clear and infectious.

That kind of commitment travels. It’s exactly what Baltimore is banking on to finish what last season couldn’t. Henry’s relentless routine already justifies the extension. Now it’s on the team to get over the hump.

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