Derrick Henry Picks Up New Nickname: ‘Just Call Me McQueen’

Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens dives for a touchdown during the second quarter against Minkah Fitzpatrick #39 and DeShon Elliott #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Wild Card Playoff at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Jan. 11, 2025. Al Bello/Getty Images

“King Henry” has a new nickname.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry said in the team’s locker rooms Thursday that he appreciates the “Lightning McQueen” nickname given to him by quarterback Lamar Jackson. Henry, who has been nicknamed “King Henry” since high school, said he got a laugh out of the nickname and that he didn’t judge Jackson’s movie choice since everybody should recognize the main character of the “Cars” movie franchise.

“I don’t want to be called anything else but McQueen,” Henry joked. “Don’t call me Derrick, just call me McQueen. No, I’m kidding. It was funny. I didn’t think that would be the comparison, but ‘L’ is ‘L.’ I told him he needs to be a comedian when he’s done playing, but I definitely got a kick and a laugh out of that.”

Another reporter asked if Henry told Jackson to watch more movies than Pixar productions.

“No, I just made sure,” he said. “I said, ‘Were you serious in that?’ He was like, ‘I was dead serious.’ I was like, ‘OK then. McQueen it is then.’ But it was funny. I don’t know who he was talking to saying he might be too old to watch the movie, but I’m sure everybody knows about the ‘Ka-chow’ because everybody has seen Lightning McQueen.”

Jackson compared Henry to Lightning McQueen, the main protagonist of the Disney-Pixar movie franchise, during the Ravens’ postgame press conference Sunday after their win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round. A reporter asked him what he thought about being able to watch Henry from the opposite side of the field.

“It looks like a movie clip,” Jackson said. “I’m gonna give [an example]—‘Cars’, you watch the movie ’Cars’? You’re a little bit too old to watch ‘Cars’. [It’s] for kids. I was a kid when I watched ’Cars’, that’s all I’m saying. But you know when Lightning McQueen [is] just flying, flashing past, and then it’s like [whooshing sound]. That’s how Derrick looks. He was running past, and all those guys—just, it looked like a movie, bro. I’m not going to lie to you. But I'd rather be watching it than be on the opposite side of the ball, I know that.”

Jackson’s comments prompted the Ravens’ official X account to post an edited video of Henry’s 44-yard touchdown run with Lightning McQueen’s famous “I am speed” monologue from the first “Cars” film.

Henry has gone by “King” since high school, according to an article in The Tennessean from Henry’s time with the Tennessee Titans. Henry earned the nickname when he was seeking the all-time career rushing record for high school football nationwide. Bobby Ramsay, who coached Henry during his years with the Yulee Hornets in his hometown of Yulee, Florida, told The Tennessean that he first noticed “King” on signs held by students in the crowd at games and local news broadcasts.

Before the “King” moniker, Henry went by “Shocka,” a nickname given to him by his grandmother, Gladys Henry, because he was a surprise to his family. Amongst friends and family, he is still known by that nickname. During his college career, a Spanish-language commentator for ESPN dubbed Henry “El Tractorcito,” or “The Little Tractor.”

Henry has certainly lived up to the “King” Moniker. Listed at 6'2 and 247 pounds with a 40-yard dash time of 4.54 seconds, Henry has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 6 of his 9 seasons. He led the NFL in rushing yards twice and rushing touchdowns three times.

In 2020, Henry became one of just eight players who rushed for 2,000 yards in a single season (that number is now nine; Saquon Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024).