Titans GM Ran Carthon Says Door Still Open For Derrick Henry

Tennessee Titans General Manager Ran Carthon is not ruling out the possibility of the team re-signing Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry. Carthon said he and the next coach will make that decision.

NASHVILLE — While Derrick Henry's 153 rushing yards and public thank-you on Sunday may have felt like farewell, Tennessee Titans General Manager Ran Carthon says not so fast.

Carthon, addressing the media Tuesday after the team fired coach Mike Vrabel, said that he and the new coach would collaboratively make personnel decisions moving forward. One of those questions is the Pro Bowl running back and his expiring contract.

"Yeah, that'll be the new head coach and I having a conversation," Carthon said. "I had a really good conversation with Derrick (Henry) yesterday on the way out. We had our conversation, which I'll keep between he and I, but the door's never closed."

Henry said so himself: 2023 was not his best work. His rushing yards per carry and per game ranked among the lowest of his eight seasons with the Titans. Henry also is 30 years old, a threshold where many running backs decline in productivity.

And then came Sunday's season finale. Henry and the Titans' offensive line punished the Jaguars to the tune of 8.1 yards a carry and a 69-yard romp.

After he took a microphone and thanked the Nissan Stadium crowd, Henry said he isn't ruling out the possibility of returning to the Titans next season.

"Like I said earlier, any player would love to play for one franchise for their whole career," Henry told reporters. "Us getting so close like we did and not finishing it, that’s always going to be in the back of your mind. I want to bring a Super Bowl here really bad. That’s one of my main goals. No matter how I do in the season, I just want to bring one here. Who knows what will happen, but at the end of the day any player would want to play for one organization for their whole career."

It seems that Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk wants to move forward with a collaborative approach where team leadership makes decisions together. In his response regarding the possible re-signing of Henry, Carthon said that successful football teams are those that share responsibility, and this approach aligns well with the Titans' organizational philosophy.

"It's all of our directors in scouting's job to identify the players that fit whatever it is we do schematically, and then present that to the coaches. And the coaches have to want to coach this guy," Carthon said. "No matter who has the final say, it's going to have to be a collection of talent that makes that work. The coaches know what they need to execute their game plan on game day."

We will know in the coming weeks whether four-time Pro Bowl running back Henry will be on the roster next season.

"I’m not getting younger. I want a ring; I want to win a Super Bowl," Henry said. "I didn’t win state in high school, so I said before I leave college, I have to get a national championship. I’m in year eight now, so the Super Bowl is definitely my next goal. That’s where I want to get. So, wherever that comes and whoever can help get close to that, that’s what we’re going to do."

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