Derrick Henry isn’t backing away from the big comparison. In a conversation with Kay Adams on Up and Adams, the Ravens running back put Baltimore’s defense in the same breath as the legendary 2000 unit - and he didn’t sound like a guy trying to play it safe.
Henry said the energy around camp has stood out to him.
“I feel like camp has just been different. They've just been on it.
That's what we need, and we're going to need that every single game and every day. We've been grinding, so for sure.”
Adams then steered the conversation toward the 2000 Ravens, the gold standard Henry was willing to measure against.
"We can be just as great or even greater than that defense."
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) August 5, 2026
Derrick Henry believes this Ravens defense can stack up with the 2000 unit 👀@Ravens | @KingHenry_2 | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/QCv9lUDE67
“For sure, that should always be the standard, though. I don't know…We can be as great, or even greater than that defense, it'll be tough but that's always the standard.”
That’s a heavy bar to clear. The 2000 Baltimore defense is still talked about as the best in NFL history, and the numbers back up the reputation.
That group gave up only 165 total points and 10.3 points per game in the regular season, both NFL records. It also held opponents to 970 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, and posted four shutouts.
Ray Lewis and Rod Woodson anchored that defense, which finished by winning Super Bowl XXV over the New York Giants. Lewis also took home NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Baltimore has reasons to believe its current defense can be strong, too. Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton are back, and Jesse Minter arrives with a reputation for defensive coaching. Still, Henry’s point was clear: the Ravens are chasing a standard that sits at the very top of the sport as they aim for their first Super Bowl in the Lamar Jackson era.
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