Former Tennessee Vols star John Henderson named to Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame's 2023 class

Former Tennessee Vols and Pearl-Cohn football star John Henderson will be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

"John Henderson was a dominant football player at every level of competition," Brad Willis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, said. "From Pearl Cohn, to Tennessee, to the NFL, John was a force to be reckoned with along the defensive line. John’s accomplishments throughout his career make him an ideal candidate for the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.”

Henderson joins a 2023 class that includes former Tennessee Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck, former Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph, former Nashville Predators Mike Fisher, Memphis linebacker Tim Harris, Middle Tennessee State baseball legend Steve Smith, golfer Loren Roberts, Bristol Motor Speedway co-founder Carl R. Moore, East Tennessee State basketball coach and athletics director Les Robinson, and Lady Vol track star and Olympic gold medalist Tianna Madison

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony, presented by the Tennessee Titans, will be held July 22, at the Omni Nashville Downtown.

A Nashville native, Henderson played defensive tackle and tight end for the Firebirds and guided the program to its only two state championships in 1996 and 1997. He was a two-time all state player and as a senior was named the Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year and a high school Parade All American. He had over 150 tackles and 32 sacks at defensive tackle and caught 11 touchdown passes as a tight end as a senior.

He played at Tennessee from 1998-2001 and was a two-time All-American, All-SEC, and the Outland Trophy winner in 2000 for the nation's top interior lineman. He was selected with the ninth pick of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Henderson played 10 seasons in the NFL, including the final two (2010 and 2011) with the Oakland Raiders. He was named All-Pro in 2006 and was named a Pro Bowler in 2004 and 2006. He finished his pro career with over 480 tackles, 29 sacks and eight forced fumbles.