Erin Henderson

Erin Henderson (born July 1, 1986) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in National Football League (NFL). He is currently an assistant linebackers coach at Avila University. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins.

Erin Henderson

Henderson in 2016
Avila Eagles
Position:	Assistant linebackers coach
Personal information
Born:	(1986-07-01) July 1, 1986 (age 39) Aberdeen, Maryland, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	244 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:	Aberdeen
College:	Maryland (2004–2007)
NFL draft:	2008: undrafted
Career history
As a player:
Minnesota Vikings (2008–2013) New York Jets (2015–2016)
As a coach:
Avila Eagles (2019–present) Assistant linebackers coach
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-ACC (2007) Second-team All-ACC (2006)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 361 Sacks: 8.5 Forced fumbles: 6 Fumble recoveries: 2 Interceptions: 2 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Henderson was born and raised in Aberdeen, Maryland. He played quarterback and linebacker for Aberdeen High School in Harford County, Maryland, and won the first state football championship in school history.

College career

After redshirting his freshman year with the Terrapins, Henderson missed the entire 2005 season after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament.

Henderson entered his redshirt sophomore year in 2006 at Maryland and started 12 of 13 games at linebacker. Henderson finished the season with 114 total tackles, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions. Henderson returned an interception for a TD in a close 28–26 victory at Virginia on October 14, 2006. Henderson had a season high 17 total tackles at Clemson on April 11, 2006. He earned second-team all-ACC honors while finishing 2nd in the conference in total tackles.

As a redshirt junior in 2007, Henderson recorded 133 total tackles,^[1] a forced fumble, 4 fumble recoveries, and an interception. Henderson had a season high and career high 18 total tackles versus Virginia on October 20, 2007. Henderson was a semi-finalist for the Dick Butkus Award, which went to James Laurinaitis of Ohio State. He led a 6–6 Maryland squad to the 2007 Emerald Bowl, where they lost to Oregon State.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 2+3⁄4 in (1.90 m)	244 lb (111 kg)	34 in (0.86 m)	10+1⁄2 in (0.27 m)	4.73 s	1.59 s	2.72 s	4.50 s	7.16 s	31.0 in (0.79 m)	9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)	23 reps
All values from NFL Combine[2]

Minnesota Vikings

During his rookie year, he played in 10 games and finished with 15 tackles. He mostly played on special teams and saw limited time on defense.

Henderson played in two regular season games for the Vikings in 2009, recording four tackles. He was suspended four games by the NFL on December 15, 2009, for violation of league's banned substances policy.^[3] Henderson won the starting job at weak-side linebacker at the start of the 2011 season.

Set to become an unrestricted free agent for the 2013 season, Henderson re-signed with the Vikings for a two-year contract.^[4] In the first regular-season game of 2013 against the Lions, Henderson recorded his first interceptions and got 11 tackles and 1 pass deflection.

He was released from the Vikings on February 7, 2014, after two suspected DUI arrests.^[5]

New York Jets

After being out of the league in 2014, Henderson signed with the New York Jets on April 8, 2015.^[6] On March 23, 2016, the Jets signed Henderson to a two-year contract for $3.1 million. On October 22, 2016, he was placed on the Reserve/Non Football Illness list.^[7]

On February 25, 2017, the Jets declined Henderson's option, making him a free agent.^[8]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Interceptions					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	Int	Yds	TD	Lng	PD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2008	MIN	10	0	15	14	1	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
2009	MIN	2	0	4	4	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
2010	MIN	9	0	13	11	2	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	0
2011	MIN	15	11	70	44	26	1.5	7	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	0
2012	MIN	14	10	80	50	30	3.0	7	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	0
2013	MIN	14	12	113	70	43	4.0	12	2	19	0	10	3	1	0	0	0
2015	NYJ	16	0	45	36	9	0.0	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0
2016	NYJ	5	4	21	12	9	0.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total		85	37	361	241	120	8.5	28	2	19	0	10	9	6	2	3	0

Playoffs

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Interceptions					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	Int	Yds	TD	Lng	PD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2008	MIN	1	0	1	1	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2012	MIN	1	1	8	2	6	0.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total		2	1	9	3	6	0.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Coaching career

In 2019, Henderson became an assistant linebackers coach for Avila University.^[9] He has also volunteered as an assistant football coach at his former high school, Aberdeen.

Personal life

Henderson is the younger brother of former linebacker E. J. Henderson. They both played college football for the Maryland Terrapins.

Henderson was arrested on suspicion of DUI in November 2013 and again January 1, 2014.^[10][11]

Henderson was charged with a DWI and possession of ten grams of marijuana on February 27, 2014, after being released from the Vikings earlier that month.^[12][13] On May 7, 2014, he was sentenced to two years of probation after he pleaded guilty to the latter DWI charge.^[14]

On September 29, 2017, it was announced that Henderson filed a lawsuit against the New York Jets for failing to accommodate his disability with his bipolar disorder and wrongful termination, which cost him more than $3 million.^[15]

Henderson became a substitute eighth-grade math teacher after his playing career.^[16]