WATCH: Derrick Henry promotes pet adoption with custom t-shirt
Tennessee Titans star and former Alabama running back Derrick Henry is on pace to break multiple NFL records, but his mind is elsewhere. Like any athlete, Henry told reporters he just wants to win games. However, like the rest of us, he spent the workday thinking about pets.
During his Thursday press conference, Derrick Henry promoting pet adoption with a white t-shirt with a large image of Bam Bam, an adoptable dog in the Nashville, Tennessee area.
“I’m trying to find this dog a home,” Henry told reporters. “So if you want a dog – and have a dog at home – he’s your guy.”
Pets are close to Derrick Henry’s heart. He owns one dog, a golden doodle named Nala, who he adopted in 2017. The Titans teamed up with Mars Petcare for the 13th annual Better Cities for Pets adoption weekend, which runs from Friday through Sunday. In total, the organizations hope to raise more than $100,000 in pet adoption fees for cats and dogs like Bam Bam.
Derrick Henry’s record-setting pace
Supporting pet adoption is only a part-time job for Derrick Henry, who has emerged as the NFL’s most dominant rushing threats of the era. He already holds consecutive rushing titles and remains on pace to shatter the NFL record books.
Henry has 783 rushing yards this season, adding 16 catches for 138 yards. At this pace, he would finish the season with 2,219 rushing yards, and 2,610 scrimmage yards.
At the six-week mark, just over one-third of the season, Henry is on pace to set four NFL records. First, the all-time record for carries in a season, currently held by Larry Johnson (416). Next, Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record (2,105). James Wilder’s record for carries and receptions (492) is also in danger. Finally, he is on pace to shatter Chris Johnson’s scrimmage yards record (2,509).
“I just don’t try to get too caught up in it and worry about things like that,” Henry said, via NBC Sports. “I really worry about how we do as a team, how we do as an offense, and what I can do to help the team each and every week. How can I be better? Rather than, this record is coming up or I have a chance to break this record.”
Henry can also become the first running back since Emmitt Smith to claim three straight rushing titles and the first player in NFL history with consecutive 2,000-yard rushing seasons.