Thomas Henderson (American football) facts for kids
Henderson signs autographs in Houston in January 2014.
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| No. 56, 50, 53 | |||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | March 1, 1953 Austin, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 221 lb (100 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Douglass (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) | ||||||
| College: | Langston | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1975 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Thomas Henderson (born March 1, 1953) is a former American football player. He was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Oilers, and Miami Dolphins. People often called him "Hollywood" because of his exciting style of play. He also played college football at Langston University.
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Early Life and High School Football
Thomas Henderson grew up in Austin, Texas. His mother raised him on the east side of the city. He played football for his high school team, L. C. Anderson High School.
In 1969, when he was in his sophomore year, he moved to Oklahoma City. He lived with his grandmother there. He played defensive end at Douglass High School. As a senior, he was named All-City. However, colleges did not recruit him much. This was because he had to sit out his junior year after transferring schools. After finishing high school, Henderson tried to join the Air Force, but he decided not to join before officially starting.
College Football Career
Henderson joined the football team at Langston University as a walk-on. This means he joined without a scholarship at first. His lively personality earned him the nickname "Wild Man." He became a two-time small-college All-American defensive end.
In his senior year, his team had a great record of 11 wins and only 1 loss. They also made it to the playoffs. He was named the Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year. He started 45 games in a row during his college career. Henderson also competed in track and field. He ran the 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds and did the triple jump, reaching 49 feet.
Years later, Henderson was honored for his achievements. In 2002, he was added to the Langston University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2018, he was also inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Journey
Playing for the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys picked Thomas Henderson in the first round of the 1975 NFL draft. He was the 18th player chosen overall. This draft class was famously called the "Dirty Dozen draft" for the Cowboys.
Rookie Season and Special Teams
As a rookie in 1975, Henderson focused on special teams. He made a big play by returning a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. This was the fourth-longest kickoff return in the team's history. He also blocked a punt in a game against the New York Jets.
In 1976, he continued to be a key player on special teams. He blocked a punt out of the end zone, which resulted in a safety for his team.
Becoming a Starter and "Hollywood"
In 1977, Henderson became the starting strongside linebacker. He had 53 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 2 fumble recoveries. He returned one interception 79 yards for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also said he was the first to do the "crossbar slam dunk" celebration in the NFL. He led the team with 7 tackles in Super Bowl XII, which the Cowboys won. Henderson gave himself the nickname "Hollywood" because of his exciting way of playing and his public lifestyle.
In 1978, he missed three games due to an ankle injury. He returned an interception 68 yards for a touchdown in the NFC championship game. Before Super Bowl XIII, he famously exchanged words with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw. In that Super Bowl, he helped linebacker Mike Hegman steal the ball, which led to a 37-yard touchdown run. Henderson was chosen for the Pro Bowl at the end of that season.
Moving to Other Teams
San Francisco 49ers
On May 15, 1980, the Cowboys traded Henderson to the San Francisco 49ers. He was traded for a draft pick. However, he was soon released from the team.
Houston Oilers
Later in 1980, on September 24, he signed with the Houston Oilers as a free agent. He played in only six games because of a hamstring injury. He also played in the Oilers' playoff loss to the Oakland Raiders. The Oilers did not sign him again after that season.
Miami Dolphins
On June 10, Henderson signed with the Miami Dolphins. Sadly, he suffered a neck injury in the last preseason game. This injury ended his football career. On August 31, he was placed on the injured reserve list. He was not re-signed by the Dolphins after the season.
Life After Football
Lawrence Taylor, another famous football player, said that he was inspired to wear the number 56 because it was Henderson's number.
In the early 1990s, Thomas Henderson helped build a youth football stadium in his hometown of Austin, Texas. This stadium was at his old high school, Anderson High. Former and current Dallas Cowboys players and many community members also helped by donating money for the construction. To raise money for a track at the school, Henderson even fasted for seven days. He slept in a tent near one of the goalposts and only drank a special mixture of lemon juice, molasses, cayenne pepper, and water.
Images for kids
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This is the Astrodome where Henderson played as a member of the Houston Oilers in 1980.
