“FROM GRIDIRON TO GLOBAL ICON: Alabama Legend and Ravens Star Derrick Henry Named to TIME 100 List for Game-Changing Philanthropy and Cultural Leadership”
Baltimore, MD — August 2, 2025
From bruising linebacker tacklers to breaking generational cycles of poverty, Derrick Henry has always run through barriers. But this week, the former Alabama Crimson Tide Heisman winner and current Baltimore Ravens star found himself in unfamiliar territory — the cover of TIME magazine.
The headline?
“The Power of Purpose: Derrick Henry’s Second Act.”
Henry was officially named to the 2025 TIME 100, recognized not only as one of the NFL’s most enduring forces but also as a cultural leader, humanitarian, and role model transforming communities far beyond the stadium.
🏈 The Athlete: A Reign of Relentless Excellence
Known as “King Henry” on the field, Derrick Henry built a football résumé few can match. A national champion and Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama, he racked up historic yardage totals in the NFL, redefining the power running game in an era of pass-heavy offenses.
After nearly a decade with the Tennessee Titans, Henry signed a 2-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024, and the impact was immediate. He rushed for over 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first season, helped Lamar Jackson lead the league’s top-scoring offense, and silenced critics who claimed he was past his prime.
But while his on-field dominance continued, Henry’s focus was shifting — from stats and titles to impact and legacy.
🏛️ The Philanthropist: A Kingdom Built on Giving
In early 2024, Henry quietly launched the “Crown Up Initiative,” a grassroots movement focused on educational equity, youth mentorship, and access to mental health services for underserved communities, particularly in Alabama and across the Deep South.
By mid-2025, the initiative had opened six fully-funded community resource centers, created scholarships for first-generation college students, and launched a national youth football leadership camp emphasizing character development and life skills.
TIME’s feature highlighted one story in particular:
A 12-year-old from rural Alabama who had never met his father and struggled in school until joining a Henry-funded after-school program. He now plans to attend Tuskegee University.
> “That’s what this is about,” Henry told TIME. “Giving kids a lane to run in. I know what it feels like to have to make your own road.”
🧠 The Leader: Redefining the Role of a Sports Star
Beyond his philanthropic work, Henry has become a leading voice in athlete-led activism — speaking on panels about NIL reform, serving as an NFLPA ambassador for mental health, and even guest lecturing at Howard University on leadership and identity in professional sports.
He also co-produced a powerful short film, “Unseen Yards,” about the psychological toll of expectations placed on young Black athletes. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June to critical acclaim.
TIME’s editors noted that Henry represents “the evolving athlete of the 21st century: tough but thoughtful, humble yet unapologetically ambitious, deeply grounded in faith, family, and service.”
🏆 A Legacy in Motion
At 31, Derrick Henry may be nearing the twilight of his playing career — though judging by his 2024 stats, it’s hard to say when. But if there’s one thing he’s made clear, it’s that his legacy will stretch far beyond football.
> “Football gave me a platform. I’m going to use it to build something bigger than myself,” Henry said in his TIME interview. “Not just highlight reels — but hope.”
From the end zones of Tuscaloosa to the global spotlight of the TIME 100, Derrick Henry’s journey proves one thing:
The crown was never about the game. It was about the purpose.
