Derrick Henry walked off the practice field at the Ravens’ first training camp session Tuesday and got soaked on purpose. Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers dumped a bucket of ice water over their teammate’s head, and Henry didn’t flinch. He had a reason to be there.
The moment was Henry’s version of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and he didn’t do it for social media clout. He did it for Chris Johnson.
The Ravens posted the video on X: “@KingHenry_2’s Ice Bucket challenge for ALS in honor of @ChrisJohnson28, @SteveGleason, @OJBrigance and Eric Stevens 💜” —
.@KingHenry_2's Ice Bucket challenge for ALS in honor of @ChrisJohnson28, @SteveGleason, @OJBrigance and Eric Stevens 💜 pic.twitter.com/TSdb9nZfwQ
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 29, 2026
According to the Ravens’ official team site, Henry dedicated the challenge to four names that carry real weight in NFL circles: Johnson, Steve Gleason, O.J. Brigance and Eric Stevens. All four have been diagnosed with ALS, the progressive neurological disease that attacks nerve cells controlling muscle movement.
Why Henry Picked These Four Names
Johnson is the headline name, and the connection to Henry runs deep. The former Titans running back revealed his ALS diagnosis publicly, and it reignited the Ice Bucket Challenge across the sports world, according to the Ravens’ report. Henry has spoken before about watching Johnson as a kid and studying how he ran — two of the most explosive backs the league has produced, linked by more than geography. Both are natives of Florida, like Jackson and Flowers.
Gleason’s name is one NFL fans already know. The former Saints defensive back was diagnosed with ALS in 2011, and the Team Gleason Foundation he built afterward has become one of the sport’s most visible platforms for ALS research and patient support, per the Ravens’ writeup.
Stevens is a less familiar name outside ALS advocacy circles, but his story fits the same pattern. He played college football at California and spent time on the Rams’ practice squad in 2013 before his 2019 diagnosis. His axeALS Foundation has since raised more than $2 million for the cause, the Ravens reported.
Brigance is the name with the most direct tie to Baltimore. The former Ravens linebacker was diagnosed with ALS in 2007 and has remained with the organization ever since as director of player development. He and his wife, Chanda, built the Brigance Brigade Foundation, which — like Gleason’s and Stevens’ groups — funds research and support services for people living with the disease.
A Donation Behind the Dousing
Henry didn’t stop at getting wet. His Two All Foundation is donating $20,000 to support ALS research, the Ravens confirmed.
“From my family and the entire NFL family, we send our love, prayers and support to all those around the world that are battling ALS,” Henry said, per the team’s report. “God bless you.”
It’s a gesture that lands differently coming from Henry specifically. He’s spent over a decade carrying a football for a living — the same physical gift ALS eventually strips away from the men he was honoring.
The Challenge Reignited
This isn’t the first time football has rallied around the Ice Bucket Challenge. The original campaign, started in 2014 by Pete Frates, Pat Quinn and Anthony Senerchia, raised more than $220 million worldwide for ALS research, according to a WSMV report that also noted Gleason’s involvement in that original wave.
Johnson’s diagnosis brought it roaring back this summer. Emmitt Smith was among the NFL alumni who took the challenge in early July, dedicating his to Johnson directly. “I want to take a moment to send blessings and prayers to you, your family and support you in your fight,” Smith posted on X, tagging Johnson by his handle — according to AtoZ Sports, which reported that momentum behind the #CJ2KIceBucketChallenge tag kept building through the month, with multiple people publicly challenging Henry to join in.
He answered.
What It Means Going Forward
None of this changes what the Ravens are building on the field this summer — Jackson and the passing attack reportedly opened camp fast, and Henry remains the engine of Baltimore’s run game heading into 2026. But moments like this one are part of why players like Brigance stay woven into a franchise long after their playing days end, and why a rival team’s former star can still pull a heartfelt reaction out of a locker room states away.
Henry’s $20,000 donation is confirmed and official, tied directly to his foundation. The broader wave of players joining the challenge for Johnson remains an organic, ongoing movement rather than a coordinated league campaign — there’s no indication the NFL office is directing it.
