Jerome Henderson, a 17-year NFL coaching veteran, is in his fourth season as the Giants' defensive backs coach.
With significant contributions from the secondary, the Giants allowed 214.0 passing yards a game to finish 14th in the NFL in 2022, the team's highest ranking since it was 10th in 2013. The unit excelled despite multiple-game absences due to injury of cornerbacks Adoree' Jackson and Aaron Robinson and safety Xavier McKinney. Henderson helped several newcomers become important contributors, including safety Jason Pinnock and rookies Cor'Dale Flott and Dane Belton.
In 2021, McKinney led the team with five interceptions, the highest total by an NFL safety that season. He earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after his performance vs. Las Vegas on Nov. 2, when he twice picked off Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. McKinney returned the second interception 41 yards for a touchdown at the beginning of the third quarter. In his first season with the Giants, Jackson had 62 tackles and eight passes defensed, despite missing three games.
The previous year, 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. Cornerback James Bradberry was selected to his first Pro Bowl after 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). Henderson helped McKinney and Darnay Holmes make 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 playing in just nine games. Safety Ricardo Allen started all 16 games and was third on the team with 84 tackles. 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.
In 2017, Atlanta's pass defense 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 11th in the NFL.
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.
Henderson was the Dallas Cowboys' secondary coach from 2012-15.
In 2015, Dallas limited opponents to 227 passing yards per game, which ranked fifth in the NFL. The previous season, Henderson's unit improved 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 his stint 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 consensus All-Rookie selections in 2010.
Henderson was a member of the New York Jets' coaching staff from 2006-08.
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 (1987-90). 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.
Jerome has been married to his beautiful wife and the love of his life Traci for over 30 years. Traci is a strong, proud breast cancer survivor. Jerome and Traci have three children. Their oldest daughter is Jazmin, and they have boy and girl 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
2020-23 New York Giants defensive backs
