The Baltimore Ravens are a first-class organization. Across history, NFL players, whether they played for the Ravens or not, have mentioned the desire to play in Baltimore. It’s a pit stop most veterans want to make before their careers are over.
The Ravens held a press conference on Monday to discuss the recent extension to their superstar running back, Derrick Henry. The 31-year-old noted his excitement about remaining in Charm City. He focused on what it means to be a Raven, mentioning the “brotherhood” built in the locker room, proving what makes Baltimore such a great place to play.
Derrick Henry and the Ravens were always a perfect match
The Ravens are a top-notch team on and off the field. On the field and in the locker room, they prioritize work ethic and building a strong sense of culture within the team. Off the field, they focus on leading, inspiring, helping, and giving back to the community. In Henry, the team’s front office not only found themselves the perfect back who dominates the gridiron with his ground-and-pound play style but also the perfect human who encapsulates the Raven way.
In his press conference, Henry highlighted how important it is to improve each day, a standard the Ravens organization holds all their players to. Hard work always pays off, and it did with the five-time Pro Bowler’s extension. But it goes deeper than just player goals and milestones; the camaraderie within the team hinges on making each other better players and people, all to find team success on the field. While he’s spent just one year in Baltimore, he’s already speaking and acting like a true Raven–like he was meant to be here all along.
Every gameday, Henry’s play perfectly fills the Ravens' identity. There’s been a rich history of elite running backs, and Henry is one of the best, but he won’t be the last. With nine years of experience under his belt, Henry looks to use this experience to teach and set an example for the younger backs on the depth chart, while continuing to bully defenses at age 31.
Young and hungry teammates like Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali are blessed to learn and compete against one of the best, as they’ll have a chance to continue the Ravens’ tradition of leading rushers.
This leadership goes beyond the field, though. During off days, the Ravens take pride in giving back to the community, which makes them and Henry a perfect match. He touched briefly on the importance of being a role model for the youth. Being one of the league’s biggest stars, Henry has the opportunity to inspire the youth and “open up doors for kids.”
He looks to seize that every day. Whether in football or life, Henry and his teammates focus on leading off the field just as much as they do on the field.
The extension locks Henry into a contract with the Ravens through 2027, and teammates and fans cannot wait to see how he continues to make this team better.