Dec. 20, 2009. It was a late Sunday afternoon, and the Cincinnati Bengals were playing the San Diego Chargers in a game with major implications in the AFC Playoff Picture.
The Bengals came in at 9-4 and two games in front of the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North. San Diego was riding an eight-game winning streak.
But something that day happened that was more than just the game of football.
That week leading up to the game, Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. passed away from injuries sustained after falling out of the back of a truck. It was a devastating event for the Bengals, and it had a clear impact on them leading up to their game that Sunday against the Chargers.
In the second quarter of that game, Chad Johnson caught a deep ball touchdown pass from Carson Palmer. After scoring, Johnson fell to his knees in the end zone and looked up to honor his friend Chris Henry. It was an emotional moment for him and the team, a symbol that sometimes it’s more than the game of football.
On Saturday, with the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes leading Ball State 49-3 in the fourth quarter of their season-opener, Chris Henry Jr. caught his first career touchdown pass. It was a 15-yard touchdown pass from Tavien St. Clair with 1:55 remaining.
Seeing Chris Henry Jr. catch a touchdown pass, in his first game as a Buckeye no less, really hit me hard.
Being a Bengals fan, I remember Chris Henry well. He was immensely talented, a big play waiting to happen every time he took the field. Did he have his not-so-good moments off the field? Yes, but he matured throughout his five seasons with the Bengals.
That’s why it sucked when he broke his forearm in November of 2009, which ended his season, not knowing it would get much worse just a month-and-a-half later.
Henry Jr. catching that touchdown pass Saturday reminded me of when Chad Johnson caught that touchdown pass in 2009, and it made me think about Chris Henry Sr. and wishing he could be here to see his son catch his first touchdown in his college career.
Chris Henry Jr. was an immensely talented recruit coming out of Mater Dei High School in California. He’s going to be a great player at Ohio State, even if he only had one catch on Saturday.
All of the emotions that I remember from December 2009 came back when Henry scored on Saturday. It was more than just a game at that point. This was about family and carrying on the Henry name, Chris Henry at that.
I’m rooting like crazy for Chris Henry Jr. Not just because he has incredible potential and because he plays for Ohio State, but because of where he comes from and his dad. I lived through watching Chris Henry with the Bengals, and I remember the devastation when he passed away at a young age.
I hope Henry can live up to his potential and have the kind of college career his dad had and the NFL career his dad should have had. Saturday was the first of what should be many great moments for Henry this season and in his Buckeyes’ career.
It’s great to see Chris Henry in the end zone again, and I know Sr. is proud of Jr.
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