Ravens, RB Derrick Henry agree on lucrative contract extension

Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun on May 14, 2025

Published in Football

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BALTIMORE — Derrick Henry said earlier this offseason that he wanted to retire a Raven.

On Wednesday, the star running back took a step closer to doing that.

Henry and the Ravens agreed to a two-year contract extension, the team announced. The deal is worth $30 million and includes $25 million fully guaranteed over the next two seasons, a source with direct knowledge confirmed to The Baltimore Sun, making it the largest for a running back over the age of 30 in league history.

“I’m appreciative & grateful for everyone apart of this great organization & a BIG [shoutout] to all my teammates to be able to make this possible,” Henry wrote on X. “Thank you Flock Nation for always supporting. Working as hard I can to be able to contribute to us holding up that trophy when it’s all said & done.”

The agreement also fulfills one of Baltimore’s biggest priorities of the offseason and comes after Henry, 31, had one of his best seasons and showed no signs of slowing down.

After spending his first eight years in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans, Henry signed a two-year, $16 million deal with Baltimore in March of last year. He then rushed for 1,921 yards last season — second-most in the NFL — and matched a career high with 18 total touchdowns (16 rushing) while averaging a career-best 5.9 yards per carry, giving the Ravens perhaps the most dynamic backfield duo in the sport alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Baltimore put up historic numbers as a result, becoming the first team to pass for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 3,000 in the same season.

After the season, both general manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh spoke about the importance of signing Henry to an extension, though it didn’t come cheap.

After Saquon Barkley led the NFL in rushing with 2,005 yards and helped lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl title, Philadelphia signed him to a two-year, $41.2 million extension that made him easily the highest paid back in the league. Henry, who was the 13th-highest paid back in terms of average annual value before his new deal, is now behind just Barkley and San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey.

But it could prove to be a worthy investment.

The Ravens have a roster built to contend for a Super Bowl now. Henry proved last year that despite 2,355 career carries during the regular season, the five-time Pro Bowl selection still has plenty of gas in the tank.

The Ravens led the NFL in yards per game last season and were third in scoring and return nearly all of their starters on offense from a year ago. Along the way, Henry topped the 100-yard mark nine times in 17 regular-season games and his 87-yard touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4 was the longest run from scrimmage in the league last season.

Henry was also lauded by coaches and teammates for his notorious work ethic as well as his professionalism.

“I can honestly just say his attitude and the way that he played was amazing to watch,” DeCosta said in January. “His relationship with his teammates, his humility as a player, his work ethic — I can’t wait to see him next year.”