Family a big part of Amari Henderson’s football journey

Family is important to Amari Henderson.

But while he was chasing his NFL dreams during a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings, a big part of that family was tragically taken away from him.

Henderson’s brother Sergio was killed in a hit and run in Texas on May 15, 2021.

“It happened during my tryout. Obviously getting that news, it was devastating,” said Amari, now a member of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. “We were pretty close. We grew up together and he stayed in Texas.

“He had a big impact (on me). That’s your big brother and you always look up to your big brother. We always talked — we talked on the phone frequently. I’m a big family-oriented guy.”

When the Vikings came to Henderson to offer him a contract, his emotions took over.

“I was coming off the field and they were telling me they wanted to sign me,” Henderson said. “I didn’t mention (Sergio’s death) to anybody and I just broke down and I cried and I told them the news that I received from my dad — my dad had called me that morning to tell me my big brother had passed away.

“I was excited that I made the team and they wanted to sign me, but I was still sad because I got the news about my brother.”

After being away from the Vikings, Henderson eventually joined the NFL team for a pre-season game in 2021. He was waived by Minnesota in August of 2021.

Now Henderson finds himself as a member of the Roughriders in 2022, starting in nine games for the Green and White.

The Riders’ next game is Friday against the Edmonton Elks. Kickoff for the game is set for 7:30 p.m. The Green Zone pre-game show begins at 5 p.m.

The 25-year-old defensive back grew up in Charlotte, N.C., and even though soccer was the first sport he played, his parents started getting him to play football when he was just three years old.

Athletics runs in his family, with his cousin CJ McCollum joining the NBA in 2013. He currently is a member of the New Orleans Pelicans.

“My mom and my dad are from Ohio and my dad is from Canton. My dad’s first cousin is (McCollum’s) mom,” Henderson said. “Just to see where he’s at now, hard work really pays off.

“I played a little bit of basketball here and there. I feel like I’m the best basketball player here (on the Riders).”

Henderson went to Mallard Creek High School, which is a football powerhouse in the area. The school won back-to-back state championships while Henderson was there.

The group of players there would be dubbed the Creek Boys.

“The crowd just started chanting Creek Boys and that just became our thing at Mallard Creek,” Henderson said.

He played his college football close to home at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.

“I loved it. It was close to home so my family was able to come to all the home games and I’m able to go back home if I needed to,” Henderson said.

After a career with the Deamon Deacons — for whom he had four interceptions in his senior year — Henderson went undrafted but spent the 2020 season on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice roster.

“That’s always my biggest goal and biggest dream to make the NFL so once I got that call from Jacksonville after I got out my senior year, it was amazing,” Henderson said. “I had tears of joy and my family was all excited so just to experience that, it was definitely fun.”

After he was waived by Minnesota and was searching for his next opportunities, some friends and family told him about what sort of opportunities were available to him in the CFL.

His friend Nafees Lyon and cousin Jamal Davis II both play for the Montreal Alouettes.

“They were telling me the CFL is a good way to get film and play football and I love playing football,” Henderson said. “I’ve enjoyed every single moment just being up here.”

Henderson believes every game he’s been getting more comfortable, which has contributed to 27 defensive tackles as well as five pass knockdowns — second-most on the team.

The Riders’ defensive unit is looking to bounce back from Saturday’s game, when they gave up 54 points to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The defence hopes to help Saskatchewan get back on track in the final push of the regular season.

“Collectively I feel like we’re all still putting the chips in. We come to work every single day … The whole season has been fun,” Henderson said.

And as he lives out his pro football dream, Henderson keeps the memory of his brother close to his chest.

“I got a chain with his name on it. I always pray before I step on the field,” Henderson said. “I make sure I thank God and ask the people upstairs to continue to watch over me.”