Los Angeles Chargers LB Daiyan Henley
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Los Angeles Chargers LB Daiyan Henley
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley was all over the field in Sunday’s 27-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans. He led the team with nine tackles and added a sack, a tackle for loss, and a pass deflection. It was one of the best performances of his three-year career, but after the game he discussed how there was more on his mind than football.
Henley’s brother, Jabari Henley, 34, was fatally shot on Friday, Oct. 31, in Los Angeles. The story was first reported by TMZ.
“Jabari, also known by his stage name Baby Uiie, was an aspiring rapper in the Los Angeles music scene,” Thomas Martinez writes for SI. “He and Daiyan both played football for Crenshaw High School just four miles away from the Chargers’ home of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Jabari was listed as a running back and linebacker by MaxPreps in the class of 2010.”
Henley Reflects on His Brother’s Death
According to ESPN’s Kris Rhim, Henley was alerted that something was wrong early on Saturday morning by teammate Denzel Perryman.
“Loud bangs awoke linebacker Daiyan Henley on Saturday morning,” Rhim writes. “Henley thought he had overslept a meeting and rushed to the door of his hotel room.
“Standing outside was linebacker Denzel Perryman, who told Henley he needed to call his mother. When Henley did, he learned the most harrowing news of his life: His brother, Jabari Henley, was shot and killed the previous night.”
“That’s like my best friend,” Henley said. “I called him a protector. One thing, he was a protector of our family.”
After sacking Titans quarterback Cam Ward on Sunday, Henley dropped to his knees in prayer.
“I just wanted to talk to my brother one more time,” Henley said. “It was just an emotional moment for me just to be able to make a play on a day like this, just losing him so soon. Like I said, it’s been a long year for me, so I had to just send a prayer up and hopefully he heard it.”
Henley Thanks Teammates and Coaches
Henley says he never considered sitting out on Sunday, in part because of the support he received from his teammates and coaches.
“They let it be known since I got the news, my brothers were there,” Henley told reporters after the game. “Denzel [Perryman] was right there as I found out. I found out about 6 a.m. in the morning. Got a call from my mom. Denzel was right there. Shoutout to my coach NaVorro Bowman, also right there,” Henley told reporters after the team’s victory. “It was a long day for me and everybody showed up. Coach [Jim] Harbaugh showed up, Jesse Minter showed up and every single one of my teammates showed up. That’s why I was out there today and was able to do what I did. It was because I had a lot of support.”
The 25-year-old linebacker is a rising defensive star putting together his best season yet. He leads the Chargers with 61 total tackles through nine games and fills out the box score in numerous areas, tacking on three sacks, four tackles for loss, and one interception.
Henley Discusses Difficult Year
Earlier this year, Henley’s father, Eugene “Big U” Henley, 58, was arrested and charged with a 43-count indictment related to racketeering crimes. Rhim, in his ESPN article, describes Henley’s father as “a first-generation Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips leader-turned-music executive” and says the charges include extortion, human trafficking, fraud, and the 2021 murder of a rap artist.
“This has probably been the worst year of my life, to be quite honest with you,” Henley said. “I feel like I’m losing a lot of my family to different ways.”