Can Derrick Henry break NFL rushing record? All-time leader Emmitt Smith thinks so

Emmitt Smith has held one of sports' most prestigious records since 2002, when he broke Walter Payton's 16,726-yard rushing record, set in 1984. Smith stretched the record to 18,355 yards before retiring after the 2004 season.

No one has seriously come close to matching Smith. Frank Gore, who broke into the NFL a year after Smith retired, came closest this century with 16,000 rushing yards. The only current back that has a legitimate chance to eventually catch Smith is Ravens running back Derrick Henry, who is currently 10th all time with 13,162 yards.

While Henry still has a ways to go, Smith feels that Henry could make a strong chase at his record and could possibly surpass him as the NFL's career rushing king.

"Oh yeah, I think it's possible," Smith recently said. "Derrick Henry is a bigger back. He takes good care of his body. He's in great shape. Y'all don't know this, but Derrick Henry broke my high school record. He broke my state high school record. So I believe he can do it again."

While Henry has the best chance of any current running back to eventually break Smith's record, it's anything but a sure thing.

Henry…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/