JH #48

Jack Henderson

Safety · Minnesota

A one-time lacrosse player who switched to football as a high school senior and turned into a hybrid safety with pass-rush production at Minnesota.

Jack Henderson took a winding road to the NFL, starting at FCS Southeastern Louisiana before finishing his college career as one of the most versatile defenders on Minnesota's defense. Now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound safety is fighting for a roster spot on a crowded depth chart after bouncing through three organizations as an undrafted free agent.

★ 103 career tackles, three interceptions over two seasons as a starter at Minnesota

★ Shared team lead with six sacks in 2024 as a hybrid safety

★ Academic All-Big Ten, 2024

Path to the league

Henderson played lacrosse for most of high school before switching to football as a senior, which delayed his recruiting and pointed him toward FCS Southeastern Louisiana. He transferred to Minnesota ahead of the 2023 season and went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft after starting for the Golden Gophers.

Career highlights

Over 26 games and 19 starts at Minnesota, Henderson piled up 103 tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble and a blocked PAT while lining up in a hybrid safety/edge role that let him rush the passer. His 2024 season was his best: 44 tackles, nine tackles for loss and six sacks, good for a share of the team lead, plus an interception he returned 25 yards for a touchdown. He earned Academic All-Big Ten honors that same year.

2025 season recap

Henderson signed with the Carolina Panthers after going undrafted in 2025 and made it to the team's final preseason cuts before being let go. He then caught on with Tampa Bay's practice squad, was signed by Pittsburgh's practice squad in October, released in November, and re-signed by the Steelers in January 2026 on a reserve/futures deal, giving him a shot to make the roster in training camp.