Following a dominant 44-yard touchdown run in the Baltimore Ravens’ wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Derrick Henry embraces a new nickname inspired by Lamar Jackson’s playful comparison to Lightning McQueen, the Pixar character from Cars.
Jackson likened Henry’s breakaway speed to that of the iconic race car. Henry, always known for his powerful runs, couldn’t help but laugh when he heard Jackson’s playful jab, but quickly warmed to the idea.
“I don’t want to be called anything else but McQueen,” Henry said with a smirk. “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.”
The comparison came after Henry’s explosive touchdown run in the third quarter of the Ravens’ 31-17 victory over Pittsburgh, a score that essentially clinched the game for Baltimore. Jackson, who watched the play unfold from the sidelines, described it as a moment straight out of a movie.
“It looked like a movie, I’m not going to lie to you,” Jackson said. “But I’d rather be watching it than be on the other side of the ball; I know that.”
Henry also found the humor in Jackson’s comparison, double-checking with his teammate if he was serious. “I just made sure, I said, ‘Were you serious on that?’” Henry recalled. “He was like, ‘I was dead serious.’ I was like, ‘OK then. McQueen, it is then.’ It was funny.”
Lamar Jackson’s lighthearted moment gave Henry a new nickname and added some humor to the Ravens’ playoff run as they prepare for their upcoming Divisional Round matchup. With Henry continuing to make waves on the field, it’s clear that Jackson’s Lightning McQueen reference is here to stay, at least for now.
As the Baltimore Ravens look to advance further in the postseason, Derrick Henry’s new moniker has become a fun talking point — but opponents will likely prefer to avoid being “on the other side of the ball” when it comes to trying to stop him.
