The NFL has a funny way of changing perspectives. Nearly six years ago, Baltimore Ravenslinebacker Roquan Smith spent an entire week game-planning for Derrick Henry when both played with the Chicago Bearsand Tennessee Titans, respectively. Like every defense preparing to face the bruising running back, the objective was simple in theory and incredibly difficult in practice. Stop "The King."
Now, instead of trying to slow Henry down, Smith gets to watch him terrorize opposing defenses every day. The Ravens' 2025 season didn't end the way anyone in Baltimore envisioned. A disappointing finish led to sweeping changes throughout the coaching staff, withJesse Minter taking over as head coach alongside offensive coordinator Declan Doyle and defensive
coordinator Anthony Weaver.
Even with those changes, one thing hasn't changed inside the locker room. Henry remains one of the cornerstones of Baltimore's championship aspirations. Smith reflected on one of his earliest meetings with Henry while speaking to reporters after training camp practice, recalling the respect the veteran running back commanded long before they became teammates.
Roquan Smith remembers preparing for Derrick Henry
Smith smiled as he described what it was like walking into a game knowing Henry was waiting on the other sideline. His answer was as you'd expect.
"Absolutely. I remember. We were going down there to Tennessee. It was a nice warm day, and 'The King'... that is all you think about every week. Like, hey... 6'3", 6'4", 260 pounds, whatever he weighs... He looks like a Greek god. So, you were definitely going down there making sure you had your chin strap maybe a little tight, a little extra air in your helmet and everything like that."
Every great running back forces defenses to adjust. Henry has spent more than a decade doing exactly that. Defensive coordinators stack the box. Linebackers prepare for a physical afternoon. Safeties know they'll eventually have to step into the alley and help bring him down. Even then, Henry often wins.
Roquan Smith says Henry's work ethic matches his reputation
Smith's admiration extends well beyond Henry's physical gifts. He's as impressed by his teammate as anyone else.
"What this guy has been able to do, we all know. (He's a) first-ballot Hall of Famer. Who he is as a person... (I've) never seen the guy complain. (He) comes in day in, day out, grinds, never takes the easy route. I am just truly happy to have him on my team now and not have to worry about going against him, because even up in London, when I was here, we knew. Hey, you stop him, you have got a chance to win every time. Just pairing him with Lamar Jackson and the rest of the guys on the offense. It is truly special."
Those comments carry weight coming from one of football's premier linebackers. Smith has built a career by studying offenses and chasing down elite runners, yet he speaks about Henry with the kind of respect normally reserved for generational players.
That's perhaps the greatest compliment Henry can receive. One of the league's best defenders doesn't just appreciate his production. He remembers what it felt like trying to stop it. Now that they're wearing the same colors, the Ravens are hoping that fear and respect become someone else's problem this fall.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Roquan Smith explains what makes Derrick Henry truly special
