The Jacksonville Jaguars made three big trades ahead of the deadline, but it was acquiring DT Jordan Davis that made the biggest splash. The Jaguars gave the Philadelphia Eagles a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick, believing that he would perform well under Anthony Campanile’s defense. The trade has also reunited Davis with former Georgia teammate Travon Walker, giving the Jaguars another familiar connection along their defensive line.
The trade sent shockwaves across the league, and in the process, an interview with Davis from the 2022 NFL Combine resurfaced. In it, Davis was asked who he models his game after, and it was a name Jacksonville fans will appreciate: star DT John Henderson.
“One person that I really honed in was John Henderson from the Jacksonville Jaguars,” he said. “Very old name and not a lot of kids say that nowadays, but he’s just one of those guys when I first started watching football that I was drawn to. And he’s one of those guys that I studied. We’re compatible in stature and size, but it’s just, in my eyes, he’s one of the greats.”
Henderson, who stood 6-foot-7 and weighed approximately 335 pounds, was selected ninth overall by Jacksonville in the 2002 NFL Draft. He spent eight seasons with the Jaguars from 2002 through 2009, earning two Pro Bowl selections and recording 29 sacks. Alongside fellow defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, Henderson helped anchor one of the NFL’s most formidable defensive fronts during the 2000s.
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Davis, meanwhile, stands 6-foot-6 and was listed at 341 pounds during the 2022 NFL Combine, where he impressed scouts with his remarkable athleticism for a player of his size. The Eagles selected him 13th overall, and he spent five seasons in Philadelphia, helping the franchise win the Super Bowl during the 2024 season.
Whether Davis can replicate Henderson’s success in Jacksonville remains to be seen, but his old comments make the trade a bit more meaningful. Four years after naming Henderson as one of the players he admired most, Davis now has an opportunity to follow in his footsteps with the Jaguars.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars DT Jordan Davis named John Henderson as his NFL inspiration
