NFL legend Emmitt Smith believes his all-time league rushing record is at risk of being broken by Derrick Henry.

Henry started the 2026 season with a monster performance for the Baltimore Ravens, putting up 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts.

Henry is now 10th in the NFL career rushing list with 13,162 yards. He is 5,193 yards behind Cowboys legend Smith. 

While he is now 32, the former Alabama standout has shown no signs that he is slowing down, and if he plays four more seasons at his current pace he could well be within touching distance of the top spot. 

Smith was 33 when he passed Walter Payton as the league's all-time leading rusher, ending on 18,355 yards by the time he retired aged 35.

But he is now starting to look over his shoulder at the prospect of his long-standing record being broken.

'Oh yeah, I think it's possible,' Smith told DraftKings. 'Derrick Henry is a bigger back. He takes great care of his body. He's in great shape.'

Henry once broke Smith's Florida high school rushing record. That is something Smith has not forgotten as he sees the Ravens star chase him down again.   

'Derrick Henry broke my state high school record,' Smith said. 'So I believe he could do it again.'

Henry was asked by ESPN last year about if he believed Smith's record was within his reach.   

'I don't know,' he replied. 'But, Lord willing, hopefully. So, we'll see.'

Henry's three-touchdown performance in Week 1 saw him pass Marcus Allen as third on the all-time list of NFL rushing touchdowns.

He has now reached the end zone 125 times with only LaDanian Tomlinson and Smith, who has 164 scores, ahead of him.  

'I'm in awe,' Henry said after the game. 'Knowing some of my heroes, L.T. was my favorite running back growing up, Emmett is a legend, NFL legend, Florida legend, just a legend all around. 

'So, for me to be in the same conversation with those guys, just you know, it seems so surreal.'