Derrick Henry, known as the king of rushing in the NFL, has embraced a fun new nickname gifted to him by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson following their Wild Card win over the Steelers: Lightning McQueen.
After Henry’s dominant 186-yard, two-touchdown performance against Pittsburgh, Jackson described what it feels like to watch Henry in action, comparing him to the animated speedster from Disney/Pixar’s Cars.
“It looks like a movie clip,” Jackson said. “The movie Cars … you know when Lightning McQueen is just flying and flashing past, and it’s like [whooshing sound]. That’s how Derrick looks when he was running past all those guys. … I’d rather be watching it than be on the other side of the ball, I know that.”
The nickname quickly stuck, with Henry leaning into the comparison.
“Don’t call me Derrick. Just call me McQueen,” Henry said with a smile after the game, embracing his new persona with a playful nod to Jackson’s metaphor.
Henry’s performance against the Steelers was nothing short of cinematic. He carried the ball 26 times for 186 yards, averaging an astounding 7.2 yards per carry, while adding two touchdowns. His explosive running style and ability to bulldoze defenders made Jackson’s Lightning McQueen metaphor feel spot-on.
With his new nickname and unmatched ability to dominate games, Henry continues to be the Ravens’ engine in their postseason run. As Baltimore heads to Buffalo for the Divisional Round, fans can’t wait to see Lightning McQueen hit the gas again.
What do you think, Ravens fans? Is Lightning McQueen the perfect nickname for Derrick Henry, or do you have an even better one? Share your thoughts in the comments! 🏎️💨