Derrick Henry surged up the NFL’s all‑time rushing leaderboard Sunday after a powerful outing that reinforced his status as one of the league’s premier running backs.

Henry carried the ball with the kind of physicality that has defined his career, piling up significant yardage and moving past multiple Hall of Fame names on the cumulative rushing list. His performance not only helped his team in the game but also altered the season and career narratives surrounding the veteran back.

Game performance

In the contest, Henry posted a season‑best rushing total that included long runs and several short‑yardage power plays, finishing with a standout yards‑per‑carry average and at least one touchdown. The effort gave him a sizable boost in both the single‑season and career rushing totals, positioning him higher on the NFL’s all‑time rushing chart.

Where the performance moved him on the all‑time list

With the latest rushing total added to his career total, Henry moved up the NFL’s all‑time rushing leaderboard into the upper tier of career rushers. The updated rankings on the league stat pages show Henry among the leading active and historical rushers, reflecting his sustained production over multiple seasons.[1]

Season context

The game also contributed meaningfully to Henry’s 2025 season totals, where he ranks among the league leaders in rushing yards and attempts. League stat pages list Henry near the top of the 2025 rushing leaderboard, a mark of both his workload and effectiveness this season.[1][2]

Impact for the team

Beyond the personal milestone, Henry’s day helped his offense control the clock and sustain drives, a crucial factor in the team’s game plan. His ability to convert short‑yardage situations and break longer runs put pressure on opponents’ defenses and opened opportunities for the passing game.

How this fits in his career

Henry’s climb on the all‑time rushing list reflects a career built on power running, yards after contact and durability. Career stat aggregators and game logs show sustained high production across multiple seasons, which explains his ascent among the NFL’s career rush leaders.[2][3]

Reaction and analysis

Coaches and analysts highlighted Henry’s combination of size, speed and vision as the reason for the outing, noting that plays called to his strengths produced the best results. Postgame commentary emphasized how Henry’s rushing success forces defenses to account for him on nearly every snap, changing opponent game plans and creating mismatches for the offense.

What to watch next

• Whether Henry can maintain this level of production across the remaining games of the season.[2]
• How the team manages his workload to balance immediate gains with long‑term durability.[1]
• Whether additional milestone passes — such as moving further up the all‑time rushing list — are within reach as the season concludes.[3]