Derrick Henry reaches rushing milestone for fifth time
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry became the second player from an Alabama high school or college to record five 1,000-yard rushing seasons in the NFL on Sunday.
A disappointing season for the Titans came closer to its end with a 26-3 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. But the former Alabama All-American went past 1,000 rushing yards during the contest on a 16-yard run in the third quarter.
Henry ran for 42 yards on 12 carries on Sunday to boost his 2023 totals to 1,014 yards and 11 touchdowns on 261 rushing attempts.
Henry also reached 1,000 rushing yards in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022.
Shaun Alexander, also an Alabama alumnus, had five 1,000-yard seasons from 2001 through 2005 for the Seattle Seahawks.
Sixteen players with Alabama football roots have produced 45 1,000-yard rushing seasons in the NFL.
The NFL 1,000-yard rushers with Alabama football roots include (with yearly totals presented as rushing attempts-rushing yards-rushing touchdowns):
William Andrews, Auburn
Atlanta Falcons
1979: 239-1,023-3
1980: 265-1,308-4
1981: 289-1,301-10
1983: 331-1,567-7
—-
Joe Cribbs, Sulligent High School, Auburn
Buffalo Bills
1980: 306-1,185-11
1981: 257-1,097-3
1983: 263-1,131-3
—-
James Brooks, Auburn
Cincinnati Bengals
1986: 205-1,087-5
1989: 221-1,239-7
1990: 195-1,004-5
—-
Bobby Humphrey, Glenn High School, Alabama
Denver Broncos
1989: 294-1,151-7
1990: 288-1,202-7
—-
Antowain Smith, Stanhope Elmore High School
Buffalo Bills
1998: 300-1,124-8
New England Patriots
2001: 287-1,157-12
—-
Stephen Davis, Auburn
Washington Redskins
1999: 290-1,405-17
2000: 332-1,318-11
2001: 356-1,432-5
Carolina Panthers
2003: 318-1,444-8
—-
Shaun Alexander, Alabama
Seattle Seahawks
2001: 309-1,318-14
2002: 295-1,175-16
2003: 326-1,435-14
2004: 353-1,696-16
2005: 370-1,880-27
—-
Rudi Johnson, Auburn
Cincinnati Bengals
2004: 361-1,454-12
2005: 337-1,458-12
2006: 341-1,309-12
—-
Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, Etowah High School, Auburn
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2005: 290-1,178-6
—-
Ronnie Brown, Auburn
Miami Dolphins
2006: 241-1,008-5
—-
Eddie Lacy, Alabama
Green Bay Packers
2013: 284-1,178-11
2014: 246-1,139-9
—-
Mark Ingram, Alabama
New Orleans Saints
2016: 205-1,043-6
2017: 230-1,124-12
Baltimore Ravens
2019: 202-1,018-10
—-
Jordan Howard, Gardendale High School, UAB
Chicago Bears
2016: 252-1,313-6
2017: 276-1,122-7
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Derrick Henry, Alabama
Tennessee Titans
2018: 215-1,059-12
2019: 303-1,540-16
2020: 378-2,027-17
2022: 349-1,538-13
2023: 261-1,014-11 (through Week 17)
—-
Josh Jacobs, Alabama
Oakland Raiders
2019: 242-1,150-7
2020: 273-1,065-12
2022: 340-1,653-12
—-
Najee Harris, Alabama
Pittsburgh Steelers
2021: 307-1,200-7
2022: 272-1,034-7
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.