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Games go wrong. Opponents score touchdowns. The Chargers can even lose a close game, but despite every adversity on the field, Derwin James Jr. calmly looks at Daiyan Henley and reminds the second-year linebacker that they have overcome tougher things together.
They think of mixed martial arts training in a West Hollywood gym where they fought, wrestled and tackled until their lungs burned and their muscles ached.
Where, as the gym’s name suggests, they became “unbreakable.”
Where they planned Henley’s bumper year which is starting to take shape.
“Everything he wants is right in front of him,” said James, the team’s star safety. “He can be, man, one of the best linebackers in this league.”
After a forgettable rookie season in which the third-round pick totaled just 10 tackles, Henley became a star of the Chargers’ resurgent defense. The former Crenshaw High standout leads the NFL’s No. 1 defense with 99 tackles, including five straight games with double-digit stops, the longest streak by a Charger since the turn of the century. With 10 or more tackles against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Henley would tie the longest streak since 2000 for any player in his first two NFL seasons.
Henley is a solid force against the running game. He can cut down in pass coverage and has five pass breakups. He is a constant presence on special teams.
“He’s this new age linebacker that can really do it all,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said.
Jim Harbaugh noticed Henley’s unique blend of size, strength and speed almost immediately when the new coach and his staff took over in the offseason. He was impressed that the 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker ran as a safety.
The comparison is not far from reality. After starting at Nevada as a wide receiver, Henley moved to safety for the Wolf Pack. He became a first-team All-Pac-12 linebacker at Washington State as a graduate transfer before the Chargers selected him 85th overall in the 2023 draft.
Henley received praise during his rookie preseason that included 14 tackles and an interception in three games, but he was quickly forgotten in former coach Brandon Staley’s defense. He only played 54 defensive snaps as a rookie.
As he stood on the sidelines, doubt began to set in. Henley wondered if he belonged at that level. He asked himself what he was missing and what he wasn’t doing well enough.
“I just wanted more, I wanted to be better, I wanted to prove myself,” Henley said. “So going into the offseason, I was determined to just get better.”
Henley was referred to a hot pink gym in West Hollywood by his uncle. When he discovered that James had also trained at Unbreakable, founded by Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer, they began syncing their workout routines.
They engaged in grueling MMA workouts. Henley, 10 pounds heavier and an inch shorter, says he has never lost a face-off. James claims that in one session he pushed Henley completely off the mat before the linebacker unfairly tried to knock him out of the ring.
“First of all, you shouldn’t kick anyone out, because that’s not the point of the session,” Henley said in disbelief when presented with James’ recollections of their training. “You see, he’s exposing himself.”
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First, both men went through two assigned rounds that Henley dominated, he said. James then proposed a third round in which the All-Pro safety pushed Henley, who responded by applying the training technique of using an opponent’s weight against him. Both agree that James, who started training at the gym earlier, had the upper hand in terms of endurance.
“Once he started getting it, he was tougher,” said James, who refers to Henley as his “little brother.” “It’s a beast.”
The training carried over to the field, where the rules of leverage, lowering and body positioning still apply to tackling, James said. Since missing four tackles against Arizona while playing with a restrictive shoulder and elbow sling after injuring his elbow against Kansas City in Week 4, Henley has not missed just four in the last five games while collecting 61 tackles.
When he mingled with James on the mat, Henley never thought about the influence the workout would have on the court.
“It makes me understand why DJ is elite at tackling,” Henley said.
This season, James became the fastest defensive back since 2000 to reach 500 career tackles. Team captain for the fourth consecutive season, James influenced Henley beyond their shared practices. They bonded further during an off-season trip to Tokyo, where they gorged on sushi and wagyu beef. They dreamed of what they wanted to accomplish this season under the leadership of a new coaching staff.
Henley said he never got clarification from previous coaches about his role. It doesn’t matter. Gaining the support and trust of veteran teammates is more important.
“I just want to prove to them that I’m legit,” Henley said.
The smile on James’ face when asked about Henley’s growth shows the young Chargers star has achieved what he hoped for.
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This story was originally published in the Los Angeles Times.
