“Grieving is hard, even when it’s for something that was never fully there.”
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There’s something deeply moving about watching a professional athlete—someone whose career is defined by physical dominance and fierce competition—soften completely when talking about his daughters.
For Derrick Henry, the powerhouse Baltimore Ravens running back known for bulldozing through defensive lines, that tender side is now on full display as he announces the arrival of his third baby girl.
The 32-year-old confirmed in a Feb. 4 interview with People that his girlfriend, Adrianna Rivas, welcomed their newest addition to the family.
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And if you’re a mom who’s ever wondered how celebrity couples manage to build stable, loving families amid the chaos of fame and demanding careers, the Henry-Rivas story offers a genuinely heartwarming example.
“We just had a new baby girl,” he told People ahead of the Super Bowl. “So my third girl, three girls in a row. I’m a girl dad.”
Derrick Henry’s love story hits the decade mark
What makes this family’s story particularly compelling is its foundation. Derrick Henry and Adrianna Rivas have been together since 2016—the same year he was drafted by the Tennessee Titans, according to People.
That means Adrianna has been by his side through every major milestone of his NFL career, from his rookie season to his move to Baltimore, through injuries and triumphs, and now through the birth of three daughters.
For anyone who follows celebrity relationships, you know how rare this kind of longevity is—especially in professional sports, where the demands of the season, constant travel, and intense public scrutiny can strain even the strongest partnerships.
Yet here they are, nearly a decade later, welcoming their third child together and building what appears to be a beautifully grounded family life.
Meet the Henry Girls: Valentina, Celine, and Baby No. 3
Let’s talk about the daughters, because the details here are absolutely precious.
The eldest, Valentina, turns six years old on May 18 and is already showing signs of her dad’s competitive spirit. Then there’s Celine, who will turn two on April 22 and enjoys watching her big sister with eager anticipation.
These birthdays were shared by Adrianna Rivas through Instagram posts, giving fans a glimpse into their family milestones.
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The newest baby girl’s name has yet to be revealed, adding a layer of anticipation for fans following along.
Given the elegant, classic names chosen for her older sisters—Valentina and Celine both carry a sophisticated, timeless quality—it will be interesting to see what the couple selects for their third daughter.
Watching his three daughters grow with immense pride
What truly resonates about Derrick Henry’s interview is how he lights up when discussing his daughters’ personalities and interests. This isn’t a celebrity offering rehearsed soundbites—it’s a dad genuinely excited about his kids’ lives.
“My 5-year-old, she’s playing basketball now and soccer. So just watching her and watching that competitive spirit grow,” he told People. “Then my 1-year-old, who will be 2 in April, [is] watching her big sister and can’t wait for her time to go play sports.”
There’s something universally relatable about this dynamic—the older sibling blazing trails while the younger one watches with wide eyes, desperate for her turn.
Any parent who has witnessed this sibling dynamic knows exactly the joy Henry is describing.
And for a dad whose entire professional identity is built around athletic excellence, seeing that competitive fire spark in his daughters must carry special meaning.
Henry channels his inner Kobe Bryant as a girl dad
Perhaps the most emotionally resonant part of Henry’s announcement is his explicit connection to Kobe Bryant and the “girl dad” movement.
“I’m a big Kobe Bryant fan, so, you know, I kind of got the same mentality with the girls,” he told People.
This isn’t a casual reference. Derrick Henry has long been an advocate for Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality” and even has the phrase listed in his Instagram bio.
For Henry, channeling Kobe isn’t just about basketball excellence or competitive drive—it’s about embracing fatherhood to daughters with the same wholehearted commitment.
Kobe Bryant famously popularized the term “girl dad” during a 2018 interview with ESPN anchor Elle Duncan. The story behind it has become legendary among parents.
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At the time, Kobe and his wife Vanessa Bryant were considering having a fourth child. When Duncan, who was pregnant with a girl at the time, asked what he would think if it turned out to be another girl, his response was immediate and genuine.
“I would have five more girls if I could,” Duncan recalled of Bryant’s response. “I’m a girl dad.”
Kobe Bryant shared four daughters — Natalia, 23, Gianna, who was 13 when she died in 2020, Bianka, 9, and Capri, 6 — with Bryant.
The “girl dad” hashtag went viral in January 2020 following the tragic helicopter crash that killed Kobe and his daughter Gianna on Jan. 26, 2020, per the Associated Press.
What began as a simple phrase became a movement—a way for fathers everywhere to express pride in raising daughters, pushing back against outdated notions that dads need sons to feel fulfilled.
For Derrick Henry to invoke this legacy while announcing his third daughter speaks to how deeply the “girl dad” identity resonates with him.
Henry describes fatherhood as a ‘blessing’
When asked about fatherhood, Derrick Henry’s words cut straight to the heart of what matters.
“I’m thankful to be able to have three and be the best dad that I can be. It’s the best title you have in this life,” he added.
He also described fatherhood as both a “blessing” and a “grind”—a refreshingly honest acknowledgment that parenting, while deeply rewarding, is also genuinely hard work.
Any parent can relate to that duality: the overwhelming love alongside the exhaustion, the pride alongside the daily challenges.
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As Derrick Henry steps into his role as a father of three daughters, he’s carrying forward a legacy that Kobe Bryant would surely appreciate—proving that being a “girl dad” is, indeed, one of life’s greatest honors.
