Jerome Henderson, a 15-year NFL coaching veteran, is in his third season as the Giants' defensive backs coach.
In 2020, Henderson was instrumental in improving a pass defense that jumped from 28th in the league the previous season to a tie for 16th. The Giants allowed 237.9 yards game through the air, a 26.2-yard improvement over their 2019 average and the team's lowest figure since 2013, when they gave up 223.3 yards a game through the air and were 10th in the league. Cornerback James Bradberry was selected to his first Pro Bowl after leading the team with three interceptions and tying for second in the NFL with 18 passes defensed. Another newcomer, Logan Ryan, moved from cornerback to safety and finished second on the Giants with 92 tackles (67 solo). Ryan teamed with Jabrill Peppers to give the Giants a strong last line of defense. Henderson helped develop Xavier McKinney and Darnay Holmes, who made significant contributions as rookies.
Prior to joining the Giants, Henderson spent four years as the Atlanta Falcons' defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach.
In 2019, Henderson molded a group of young defensive backs into a productive unit that helped the Falcons finish second in the NFC South. Cornerback Desmond Trufant led the team with four interceptions, despite being limited to nine games because of toe and forearm injuries. Safety Ricardo Allen started all 16 games and was third on the team with 84 tackles. Damontae Kazee tied for fourth with 69 and was second with three interceptions. The defense recorded 87 passes defensed (5.4 a game).
In Henderson's third year with the Falcons in 2018, the defense recorded 15 interceptions, tied for the ninth-most in the league, and tallied 72 passes defensed. Kazee, then a second-year pro, enjoyed a breakout season and tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions.
In 2017, Henderson helped coach a defense that only allowed 6.7 passing yards per attempt, which was below the league average of 7.0 yards. The pass defense also saw a jump from year one to year two under Henderson's leadership, as the defense only allowed 232.8 passing yards per game and finished 11 in the NFL last season in pass defense.
In Henderson's first Falcons season in 2016, he coached a young secondary that helped the defense rank in the top five in interceptions returned for touchdowns (three). The team's 279 interception return yards and 89 passes defensed were both third in the NFL.
Before joining the Falcons, Henderson spent four seasons as the Dallas Cowboys' secondary coach under Jason Garrett, now the Giants' offensive coordinator. In 2015, Dallas limited opponents to 227 passing yards per game, which ranked fifth in the NFL. Henderson's unit surrendered 19 passing touchdowns, tied for the third-fewest in the NFL, and 29 passes of 25-plus yards, which ranked ninth.
The previous season, Henderson saw his unit improve in passing yards allowed, yards per attempt, interceptions, passing touchdowns, and passes of 25-plus yards. During the 2013 season, he led the defensive backfield as the entire unit made the switch from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 scheme.
In his first year in Dallas, Henderson was tasked with integrating two new starting corners in veteran free agent Brandon Carr and first-round draft choice Morris Claiborne. Carr led the team with three interceptions - returning one for a touchdown - while Claiborne picked off one pass and had a fumble return for a touchdown.
Prior to arriving in Dallas, Henderson spent three seasons as a secondary coach in Cleveland, where his defensive backs recorded seven of the club's nine interceptions in 2011 and finished second in the NFL in passing defense. He was instrumental in the development of cornerback Joe Haden and safety T.J. Ward, both of whom were consensus All-Rookie selections in 2010.
Before his stint in Cleveland, Henderson spent three seasons as a member of the New York Jets' coaching staff. He led the defensive backs in 2008, when cornerback Darrelle Revis earn a Pro Bowl berth after leading the team with five interceptions. Henderson split duties as an assistant defensive backs coach and director of player development in 2007 after originally joining the club in the latter position the previous year.
Henderson was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft, after starring at Clemson. He played eight seasons in the NFL as a defensive back with the Patriots (1991-93, 1996), Buffalo Bills (1993-94), Philadelphia Eagles (1995), and Jets (1997-98). He appeared in 98 games with 34 starts and recorded nine career interceptions. Henderson played in Super Bowl XXVIII with the Bills and Super Bowl XXXI as a member of the Patriots.
Henderson grew up in Statesville, N.C., and played at Clemson University from 1987-90.
He and his wife, Traci, have three children, Jazmin and twins Taylor and Tyler.
2006 New York Jets director of player development
2007 New York Jets assistant defensive backs/director of player development
2008 New York Jets defensive backs
2009-11 Cleveland Browns defensive backs
2012-15 Dallas Cowboys defensive backs
2016-19 Atlanta Falcons passing game coordinator/secondary
2020-22 New York Giants defensive backs
