Derrick Henry & the (Increasingly Rare) Urban Legend Running Back

Generations will look back at the Ravens back as a legend of the era, but he might be the last of his breed in a sport that is obsessed with analytical efficiency over creativity

When I was kid, my first exposure to football was through my grandmother. We would get on the phone and she would tell me about one player in particular: Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders. She would tell me how Sanders was this untouchable and shifty ball of energy, making defenders look foolish every Sunday. It was a story of mythology and awe, that has often resonated when talking about the running back position historically.

Today, that reverence has largely disappeared. The running back position has become increasingly specialized, removing the incredible in favor of nuanced efficiency. Player skill sets are exploited in a committee system and are typically discarded faster than any other position. This rule, however, has an exception, and his name is Derrick Henry. At 31 years old, Henry is defying the expectations placed on him and the running back position — showing us why he may be the last of a dying breed at the position.

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