Mario Henderson, a former Raiders tackle who started 28 games between 2008 and 2010, has died at age 35, according to a Florida high school coach and former high school teammate.
“On behalf of the Lehigh Football Program I would like to extend my condolences to the family of our Brother, Lehigh Lightning & Florida State Seminole GREAT, Mr. Mario Henderson!” Lehigh High School coach James Chaney posted on his Twitter account.
The details surrounding his death were not immediately known. Henderson was to turn 36 on Oct. 29.
The NFL Players Association, through its former players services, issued a statement on Henderson’s passing:
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mario Henderson. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. Rest In Peace.”
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mario Henderson. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/3tKJ9l4Heu
— NFLPA Former Players (@NFLPAFmrPlayers) October 21, 2020
The Raiders issued the following statement:
“The Raiders Family is heavy hearted following the passing of Mario Henderson, who was a third-round draft pick and played four seasons with the Silver and Black. Everyone will miss Mario’s sense of humor and passion for football and life. The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with Mario’s family and loved ones at this time.”
On behalf of the Lehigh Football Program I would like to extend my condolences to the family of our Brother, Lehigh Lightning & Florida State Seminole GREAT, Mr. Mario Henderson! #BoltUp #RestInPeace #Noleforever pic.twitter.com/FIkam787X0
— Coach Chaney (@coachchaney96) October 21, 2020
The Facebook page for Henderson has been converted to a “Remembering Mario Henderson” account and one of his last posts on Sept. 22 was a photo of a brick replica sent to him by the Raiders with his name and uniform number which would be displayed at Allegiant Stadium. All former players have a brick in their honor.
Henderson was originally drafted by the New England Patriots in 2007 with the 91st overall selection but traded to the Raiders for a seventh-round pick in that draft plus a third-round pick in 2008.
A late bloomer in football, Henderson weighed as much as 375 pounds in high school and did not play football until his senior year. He played in one game as a Raiders rookie in 2007 then played in 11 games with five starts in 2008, started all 16 games in 2009 and played in 16 games with seven starts in 2010.
Henderson earned a scholarship to Florida State after transferring from Bishop Verot High School to Lehigh Acres. He was a starting left tackle by his senior year with the Seminoles and an intriguing prospect because of his height and long arms.
Reserved by nature, Henderson was prematurely balding and looked older than his age, which was a source of amusement among his teammates. He also wowed them with his ability as a bowler during a training camp team outing.
“I’m a quiet guy. I’m not a guy you hear yelling and cracking jokes,” Henderson told Seminoles.com in 2006. “I’ll be the guy that is laughing at them. I’m just cool and laid back — I’ll go with the flow. If somebody says something, it’s fine, that’s how they feel. I won’t try to interject or contradict what somebody is saying. I really don’t say much to people. I just sit back and listen.”
Henderson unwittingly became a pawn in a struggle between owner Al Davis and coach Lane Kiffin. Davis wanted Henderson in the lineup, while Kiffin chided the tackle publicly and used the moniker “Super Mario” in a mocking tone.
Henderson appeared to blossom at the end of the 2008 season starting the last three games of the season in place of struggling Kwame Harris against quality opposition and without making a penalty.
The following season, Henderson started all 16 games after Khalif Barnes fractured an ankle.
“You knew that he had a talent but maturity-wise he has really grown,” coach Tom Cable said in 2009. “He has worked so hard and has really changed who he was early in his career.”
When asked about Kiffin and the way he was treated publicly, Henderson took the high road in a training camp interview.
“I’m not going to say it was too harsh,” Henderson said. “I’m going to take the blame. Maybe I wasn’t doing what they were expecting of me. I took that as motivation. … I was going to show them that one day they would be able to count on me and just show them that I can play in the league.”
Henderson was not re-signed in 2011 after his original contract expired, with Barnes moving in as the Raiders’ starting left tackle. Henderson spent time in the Chargers organization in 2012 but did not appear in a game.
Following his NFL career, Henderson spent time in both the Arena and Indoor Football Leagues.