Chris Henry Jr. is Lighting Up High School Football
Anwar Stetson
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Chris Henry Jr.’s story is unlike any other. NFL fans may remember the tragic passing of his father, Chris Henry Sr., a former Cincinnati Bengals player who was emerging as one of the best young wide receivers in football before he died in 2009. But now, his son is emerging as one of the best high school football players in the nation. Chris Henry Jr. is not only keeping his father’s name alive, he’s thriving at the best football program in the country.
Chris Henry Sr. Tragedy
Henry Sr. died in 2009 after falling from a moving truck driven by his fiancée, Loleini Tonga, while the two were involved in a domestic dispute. Even more shocking, less than a year later, Henry was posthumously diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). At 26 years old, Henry was one of the youngest players ever diagnosed with the brain disease at the time. The results astonished many who didn’t believe that the debilitating brain disease could happen to someone so young. Henry had also never been diagnosed with a concussion during his playing career, revealing that some players can get CTE simply from an accumulation of small sub-concussive hits over time, rather than large impacts. Henry’s mother told ESPN in 2010 that the disease explained Henry’s erratic behavior during his lifetime.
Henry Jr.’s Rise
Now, Chris Henry Jr. represents the explosion of second-generation athletes dominating high school and college athletics in 2025. With trademark dreadlocks and an athletic 6’6” frame, Henry Jr. is a spitting image of his dad, and an even better prospect. Henry Jr. was already a hot commodity entering his freshman year of high school in Cincinnati. After shattering records while playing in Southern Ohio, Henry Jr. and his family moved to Southern California so Henry Jr. could join Mater Dei.
The Mater Dei Monarchs are one of the most successful programs in all of high school sports. Their illustrious alumni list includes multiple Olympians and professional athletes in multiple sports. It also includes Heisman trophy winners John Huarte, Matt Leinart, and Bryce Young, and 15 other players who went on to the NFL. The football program has won seven CIF state championships in the last 30 years–and has lost only four games since 2017. Coming off a 2024 state championship and undefeated 13-0 record, the Monarchs opened the 2025 season on Friday with a 26-23 road victory over St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) in a nationally televised contest.
Son: Chris Henry Jr., 2025
Father: Chris Henry, 2008
Henry Jr. stole the show with four catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns in the game–including an 81-yard grab that he snatched away from the clutches of a defender. Towering over defenders at the high school level, Henry Jr. wowed the Santa Ana crowd, but also impressed eager Ohio State fans. The 18-year-old is committed to the Buckeyes, joining a growing list of five-star wideouts that have gone on to dominate in Columbus.
Pacman’s Influence
Adam “Pacman” Jones was once perhaps the most infamous name in the National Football League. Known more for his off-the-field issues than his play on the field, Jones was arrested on ten different occasions during his playing career, ranging from assault, disorderly conduct, and reckless driving charges, to a notorious strip club shooting incident involving rapper Nelly. Jones and Henry were close friends and teammates at West Virginia University, and both earned notoriety for off-the-field issues in the NFL. Henry, though, seemed to be turning his life around before his unfortunate passing.
In an effort to turn his own life around, Jones helped raise Henry Jr., who was two years old when his father died. Henry Jr. and his siblings called Jones “Uncle Pac”, with Henry Jr. eventually living with him for a time in Ohio before the Henry family moved to California. Jones even helped the young star navigate the recruiting process before he eventually committed to Ohio State. His sister, Seini Hicks, is a forward on the Ohio State women’s basketball team.
Up Next for Henry Jr.
Back out west, this past weekend allowed Henry Jr. to shine on the brightest stage for the first time. He missed much of his junior year at Mater Dei due to injury, but now the nation understands that the young athlete’s combination of unteachable height and athleticism makes him one of the most hyped five-star prospects in years.
Chris Henry Jr.’s journey to the top of high school football has been a long and unconventional journey. But it continues on Friday when the Monarchs host another national matchup against Hawaii’s Kahuku High School. At every stage of the gridiron, high school, college, and pro football fans are rooting for a young man who carries the weight of a complicated legacy, but who continues to make a name for himself with every incredible catch.