Robert Mays of The Athletic believes Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley is on the verge of a breakout season.
“And so, when you look at this collection of players they’ve drafted on defense over the last few years—Derrick mentioned Daiyan Henley—I think he’s probably the best candidate to take that next step. That’s how they see it too. Last year, with him, it was a matter of ‘If Daiyan sees things just a half-step faster, how many more balls does he get his hands on? How many pass breakups become interceptions?’ You go from being a really good, promising young player to someone who’s surprisingly Second-Team All-Pro. For Daiyan Henley specifically, the gap to get there isn’t that big,” Mays said.
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Henley’s rise has been both swift and hard-earned. A Los Angeles native who played high school football at Crenshaw, Henley switched positions multiple times—from quarterback in high school to wide receiver at Nevada, then to defense at Washington State—before the Chargers drafted him in the third round (No. 85 overall) in 2023.
Henley’s rookie season was quiet, as he played just 51 defensive snaps behind established linebackers Kenneth Murray Jr., Eric Kendricks, and Nick Niemann. “I chased this dream for so long to be here, from outside looking in, that probably seemed like it was enough,” Henley told ESPN. “But that wasn’t my end-all-be-all goal to be a special teamer. … That was where my embarrassment was, but it was also my interior motivation.”
In 2024, with Murray and Kendricks gone and a new coaching staff led by Jim Harbaugh in place, Henley’s opportunity finally arrived. Although rookie linebacker Junior Colson was expected to play a major role, an appendicitis sidelined him during training camp, allowing Henley to emerge as a leader on defense.
From Weeks 8–16, Henley played at least 60 snaps in all but one game, showing both durability and playmaking ability. Despite a torn labrum in Week 4 against the Chiefs, Henley played through the injury, adjusting his shoulder support to avoid surgery until after the season. He went on a tear, recording double-digit tackles in eight of nine games, including a career-high 15 against the Titans.
“The growth, the leadership, the tackling ability, that’s been great,” Harbaugh said. “Elite pass defense, driving into the zone and just finding the receivers and plugging the holes and then reacting to the ball in the air—that was elite.”
Henley finished the season eighth in the NFL in total tackles (147), establishing himself as a centerpiece of the Chargers’ defense. “I can truly say I don’t feel embarrassed,” Henley said, reflecting on his journey. “I feel much better about my football life and my football journey. I feel like I did accomplish a lot, but I just know I haven’t gotten to where I wanna be.”
Henley has continued to build on that momentum in the offseason, rehabbing his shoulder and participating fully in minicamp and OTAs. Chargers coaches and teammates have taken notice of his development not only as a playmaker but also as a vocal leader.
“I think leadership comes with production, it comes with experience,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said. “When you combine how he operates with the type of play that he put out there last year, he’s been phenomenal this offseason.”
Defensive back Derwin James Jr. echoed those sentiments: “He’s talking more, he’s being that leader, he’s confident. The more Daiyan continues to play, the more he continues to lead, it’ll be that much easier for him. He’s that type of guy.”
With expectations high and the opportunity to step fully into a starting role, Henley appears poised for a breakout season in 2025. James summed up the outlook best: “I feel like he has that ceiling where he can be an All-Pro player. Not just Pro Bowl, but All-Pro.”
For Henley, the next step isn’t just about stats—it’s about cementing himself as one of the league’s premier linebackers, a journey that started in his hometown of Los Angeles and could now take him all the way to All-Pro status.
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