John Henderson
refer to caption
Henderson with the Raiders in 2011
No. 98, 79
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1979-01-09) January 9, 1979 (age 45)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight:335 lb (152 kg)
Career information
High school:Pearl-Cohn Comprehensive
(Nashville, Tennessee)
College:Tennessee
NFL draft:2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:489
Sacks:29.0
Forced fumbles:8
Fumble recoveries:5
Pass deflections:45
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

John Nathan Henderson (born January 9, 1979), nicknamed "Big John" or "Big Hen", is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and was a two-time consensus All-American. The Jacksonville Jaguars chose him in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft, and he was selected for the Pro Bowl twice.

Early years

Henderson was born in Nashville, Tennessee.[1] He attended Pearl-Cohn Comprehensive High School in Nashville, where he played defensive tackle and tight end for the Pearl Cohn Firebirds high school football team.[2] His teams won back-to-back state championships during his junior and senior years.[3] He was named All-State as a junior when he had 145 tackles and 15 sacks, along with 37 catches for 470 yards and 9 touchdowns. As a senior, he finished with 150 tackles and 32 sacks, to go with 45 catches for 560 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was also selected as a High School All-American by Parade magazine, USA Today, Blue Chip Illustrated, National Recruiting Advisor, and Super Prep. He was ranked as the 7th best high school player in The Sporting News Top 100 and was ranked 1st in the state of Tennessee by the Knoxville News Sentinel and the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Henderson also was named All-State in basketball.[4]

College career

While attending the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Henderson played for coach Phillip Fulmer's Tennessee Volunteers football team from 1998 to 2001.[5] At Tennessee, he lined up at left defensive tackle next to Albert Haynesworth. He played in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl, 2000 Cotton Bowl Classic, and 2001 Citrus Bowl.[6] As a sophomore, Henderson recorded 43 tackles and four sacks in seven starts. As a junior, Henderson recorded 71 tackles (21 for a loss) and 12 sacks. He won the Outland Trophy as college football's top interior lineman and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American in 2000, having received first-team honors from the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News, Football News, CNN/SI, and Rivals.com.[7][8][9] After finishing with 48 tackles (nine for a loss) and 4.5 sacks in 10 starts, Henderson was again recognized as a consensus first-team All-American as a senior in 2001.[7] He finished his college career with 165 tackles (130 solo and 39 for loss) and 20.5 sacks (5th in school history), seven pass deflections, four forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 6+7⁄8 in
(2.00 m) 		308 lb
(140 kg) 		34+1⁄2 in
(0.88 m) 		8+3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)		 4.87 s 4.66 s 7.71 s 27.5 in
(0.70 m)		 9 ft 2 in
(2.79 m)		 24 reps
All values from NFL Combine[10][11]

Jacksonville Jaguars

Henderson was the Jacksonville Jaguars' first-round pick (9th overall) in the 2002 NFL draft.[12] He finished his rookie season with 53 tackles (44 solo), 6.5 sacks, 6 pass deflections, and 1 forced fumble in 16 games (13 starts).[13] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[14] In 2003, he had 56 tackles (45 solo and 13 for loss), 3.5 sacks, 7 pass deflections, 3 forced fumbles, and 33 quarterback pressures in 16 starts.[15] In 2004, he finished with 75 tackles (62 solo and 5 for loss), 5.5 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 1 fumble recovery, and 39 QB pressures in 16 starts and was selected to his first Pro Bowl.[16][17] In 2005, Henderson had 70 tackles (52 solo and 4 for loss), 3 sacks, 7 pass deflections, 3 forced fumbles, and 20 QB pressures in 16 games (15 starts).[18] He also started in the Jaguars' lone playoff game and recorded 5 tackles and 1 sack.[19] On March 21, 2006, Henderson signed a new 6 year, $34 million contract extension with the Jaguars through 2011. The contract also contains $13.4 million guaranteed.[20] Henderson responded with 51 tackles (38 solo and 6 for loss), 3.5 sacks, 6 pass deflections, and 7 QB pressures, as well as his second Pro Bowl selection.[21][22] He was also named an AP Second Team All-Pro.[23] He was filmed by the NFL Network getting pumped up for a game by having a team trainer slap him in the face.[24] In 2007, Henderson finished with 38 tackles (28 solo), 2 sacks, 3 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, and 13 QB pressures in 15 starts, marking the first time in his career he did not play all 16 games.[25] Henderson started both playoff games for the Jaguars, finishing with 9 tackles and 2 sacks. In March 2008, Henderson's good friend and fellow defensive tackle Marcus Stroud was traded to the Buffalo Bills. Henderson finished the 2008 season with 44 tackles (34 solo), 2 sacks, and 2 pass deflections in 14 games.[26] In the 2009 off-season, Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio was critical of Henderson for pulling out of OTAs, claiming he was faking a shoulder injury to avoid having to participate.[27] Although many believed Henderson would be released, he met privately with Del Rio and claimed that he had "bought in".[28] Henderson finished the 2009 season with 36 tackles (26 solo), 3 sacks, 3 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles.[29]

Henderson was released by the Jaguars on April 26, 2010.[30]

Oakland Raiders

On June 11, 2010, Henderson signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Raiders.[31] He played in nine games and two starts. He recorded 30 total tackles and three passes defended.[32] On February 24, 2011, he signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Raiders.[33] He finished the 2011 season with 36 total tackles and four passes defended in 13 games and three starts.[34] Following the 2011 season, he was released on March 14, 2012.[35]

NFL statistics

Year Team GP Comb Total Ast Sck FF FR Yds TD Int Yds Lng TD PD
2002 JAX 16 53 44 9 6.5 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
2003 JAX 16 56 45 11 3.5 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
2004 JAX 16 75 62 13 5.5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
2005 JAX 16 70 52 18 3.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
2006 JAX 16 51 38 13 3.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
2007 JAX 15 38 28 10 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
2008 JAX 14 44 34 10 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2009 JAX 15 36 26 10 3.0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
2010 OAK 9 30 24 6 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
2011 OAK 13 36 25 11 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
Career 146 489 378 111 29.0 8 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 45

Personal life

Henderson met his wife Aleviar while attending the University of Tennessee in 2001. They were married on March 10, 2007. Together they have six children: Ja’ Mari, Anaiya, Talia, Ayden, Asa, and Ari Henderson. Their daughter Talia was born with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and died at age 7 in 2011. In Talia's honor, the Hendersons have made a commitment to help improve the quality of life of other children with disabilities through their nonprofit organization Luvthekidz.[36]

The Hendersons have owned and operated several businesses in the US. In 2007, Henderson opened a clothing store in Jacksonville called "4 Big Men by Big Hen" that sold big and tall clothing.[37] In 2011 the Hendersons opened Aleviar's VIP Lounge and Jazz Bar in Jacksonville, as well as Coast2Coast Trucking in Los Angeles. In 2012, Henderson opened a multiple restaurant locations in Jacksonville called "Big John's Crumpy's Wings & Things"; the restaurant closed in 2015.

References

  1. ^ Shipley, John (February 17, 2024). "Former Jaguars DL John Henderson Named to Tennessee Volunteers Hall of Fame". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  2. ^ Robinson, George (July 23, 2023). "How John Henderson's time at Pearl-Cohn, Tennessee football led to Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  3. ^ "John Henderson, Tennessee Volunteers, Defensive Tackle". 247Sports. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  4. ^ Jaguars 2009 Media Guide Archived February 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "John Henderson - Football". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Shelton, Will (July 26, 2008). "Tennessee Volunteers' 1998 National Championship: Part XII". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  7. ^ a b 2011 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 11 (2011). Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  8. ^ "John Outland Trophy Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  9. ^ "Consensus All-America Teams (2000-2009)". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  10. ^ "2002 Draft Scout John Henderson, Tennessee NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  11. ^ "John Henderson, Combine Results, DT - Tennessee". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  12. ^ "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  13. ^ "John Henderson 2002 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  14. ^ "2002 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  15. ^ "John Henderson 2003 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  16. ^ "John Henderson 2004 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  17. ^ "2004 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  18. ^ "John Henderson 2005 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  19. ^ "Wild Card - Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots - January 7th, 2006". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  20. ^ Yahoo Sports: Jaguars sign DT Henderson to six-year extension
  21. ^ "John Henderson 2006 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "2006 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  23. ^ "2006 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  24. ^ YouTube: John Henderson's pregame warmup
  25. ^ "John Henderson 2007 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  26. ^ "John Henderson 2008 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  27. ^ "Del Rio Calls Out John Henderson". NBC Sports. June 2, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  28. ^ "John Henderson Responds To Del Rio". NBC Sports. June 5, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  29. ^ "John Henderson 2009 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  30. ^ "Jags release two-time Pro Bowl DT Henderson". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 26, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  31. ^ "Source: Raiders, DT Henderson agree on deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 11, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  32. ^ "John Henderson 2010 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  33. ^ "Raiders, John Henderson reach deal". The Florida Times-Union. Associated Press. February 24, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  34. ^ "John Henderson 2011 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  35. ^ "Henderson, Carlisle latest Raiders to be cut". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 14, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  36. ^ "Staff Pages". LuvTheKidz. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  37. ^ Wright, Michael C. (November 17, 2007). "Talented Gates will gest safeties". Florida Times-Union. Archived from the original on November 19, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2022.

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