Derrick Henry Says Kobe Bryant Evokes His Fatherhood Method
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Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry just welcomed his third daughter into the world, and he’s embracing a philosophy that’s quietly reshaping how men talk about fatherhood.
The 32-year-old NFL star confirmed in a Feb. 4 interview with People that his girlfriend, Adrianna Rivas, recently gave birth to their third daughter.
The couple has been together since 2016, the same year Henry was drafted by the Tennessee Titans, according to People.
“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.”
That phrase carries weight. And Henry knows exactly where it comes from.
Kobe Bryant’s mentality runs deep for Derrick Henry
Henry didn’t just casually drop the “girl dad” label. He explicitly tied his approach to fatherhood to one of basketball’s most iconic figures.
“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 new territory for Henry. The running back has long aligned himself with Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality” philosophy, a mindset built around relentless preparation, competitive drive, and refusing to make excuses.
In fact, the phrase appears in Henry’s Instagram bio, signaling how central Bryant’s influence has been to his career and personal identity.
Kobe Bryant shared four daughters with his wife, Vanessa Bryant: Natalia, now 23; Gianna, who was 13 when she died in 2020; Bianka, 9; and Capri, 6.
Kobe and Gianna died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, per the Associated Press.
How the ‘girl dad’ mindset became a cultural touchstone
The term “girl dad” entered the mainstream vocabulary when Kobe Bryant popularized the phrase during a 2018 interview with ESPN anchor Elle Duncan.
Duncan, who was pregnant with a girl at the time, asked Bryant what he would think if he and Vanessa had another daughter prior to his wife’s fourth pregnancy. His response stuck with her.
“I would have five more girls if I could,” Duncan recalled of Bryant’s answer. “I’m a girl dad.”
The hashtag went viral in January 2020 following Kobe and Gianna’s deaths. Fathers across social media began sharing photos with their daughters, using the term as a badge of pride rather than a consolation prize for not having sons.
What started as one athlete’s offhand comment became a shift in how some men publicly discuss raising daughters. The phrase reframes fatherhood away from the traditional assumption that men want sons to carry on their legacy.
Henry’s daughters are already showing competitive spirit
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Henry’s three daughters include Valentina, 5; Celine, 1; and the newborn, whose name has not yet been revealed. According to Instagram posts by Rivas, Valentina turns six on May 18 and Celine turns two on April 22.
The running back shared that his oldest is already developing the athletic drive he’s known for on the field.
“My 5-year-old, she’s playing basketball now and soccer. So just watching her and watching that competitive spirit grow. 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,” he told People.
There’s something worth noting here: Henry didn’t describe his daughters’ activities as cute hobbies or casual pastimes. He used the word “competitive.” He’s watching for the same fire that’s made him one of the NFL’s most punishing runners.
What ‘girl dad’ signals about modern fatherhood
In his interview with People, Henry described fatherhood as both a “blessing” and a “grind.”
“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.
The “girl dad” identity represents something broader than celebrity parenting trends. It reflects a growing willingness among men, particularly high-profile athletes, to publicly celebrate raising daughters without qualification or disappointment.
For anyone tracking cultural shifts in how masculinity and fatherhood intersect, the “girl dad” phenomenon offers a data point.
Elite athletes, who operate in hypermasculine environments, are increasingly vocal about finding fulfillment in raising daughters. They’re not treating it as a consolation or a joke. They’re treating it as a source of pride.
Henry connecting his parenting philosophy to Kobe Bryant’s legacy adds another layer. Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality” was about excellence, discipline, and refusing to settle.
By invoking that same mindset for his approach to fatherhood, Henry suggests he’s bringing the same intensity to raising his daughters that he brings to breaking tackles on Sunday afternoons.
The newborn’s name remains unknown for now. But if Henry’s track record with Valentina and Celine offers any indication, she’ll grow up in a household where competitive spirit is encouraged and “girl dad” isn’t just a hashtag.
It’s an identity her father wears with intention.