Derrick Henry described his departure from the Tennessee Titans to Baltimore media after the 2023 season on Sept. 30 by saying, "They shipped me out."
After a couple of seconds, the Titans’ second-leading all-time rusher changed his tone.
"Nah, I mean don't want to say it like that," Henry said. "There's always love. But no, they didn't offer, not at all."
The subject naturally came up with Henry, 32, now in his third season with the Baltimore Ravens (2-1), preparing to face the Titans (0-3) in Baltimore on Oct. 4.
It wasn't the first time Henry said he didn't receive an offer to stay with the Titans after he became a free agent. It was reported in 2023 that the Titans rejected a trade offer from the Ravens for Henry for a fourth-round draft pick
with contingencies to make it a third-round pick. Henry then left Tennessee after the season without an offer to stay.
Derrick Henry confirmed the Titans didn't try to retain him before he joined the Ravens, via @jamisonhensley:
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) September 30, 2026
"It was bittersweet ... Good things don't last forever so it was time for me to find a new home."pic.twitter.com/AkhTXHutyk
On Sept. 30, Henry called his departure from Tennessee "bittersweet," adding that he knew before it was official that his time with the Titans was nearing an end in 2023.
"I knew the writing was on the wall throughout that season and they were ready to move on," Henry said. "You know, good things don't last forever, so it was time for me to find a new home ... and I knew what I wanted that home to be and it was here and so, God is good."
Derrick Henry stats
Henry rushed for 9,502 yards and 90 touchdowns with the Titans from 2016-2023. In 2024, he rushed for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns in Baltimore, and in 2025 he rushed for 1,595 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Henry heads into the game against the Titans with 301 yards on 61 carries and six touchdowns.
His replacement at Tennessee, Tony Pollard, rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons but only 10 total touchdowns. Pollard had 173 yards on 38 carries and no touchdowns in 2026.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Did Titans offer Derrick Henry free agent contract in 2023? Ravens RB says 'not at all'
