One of the feel-good stories of the 2023 NFL draft, particularly from a Washington Commanders’ perspective, was fifth-round pick K.J. Henry.
Henry, a standout defensive end at Clemson, fell to the Commanders in the fifth round, and he couldn’t have landed in a better place, at least in the eyes of his father.
Henry’s father, Keith, is a longtime Washington fan, something K.J. Henry has noted multiple times in interviews since April’s draft. After the father and son embraced, the elder Henry went upstairs and came back down to greet K.J. Henry in a Jeremiah Trotter jersey from 2002. To have that jersey, you are a longtime fan. And that video quickly made the Henry family popular with Commanders fans.
On Wednesday at Washington’s practice — OTAs — Henry had a special guest: His father, Keith, was present at practice in what Washington’s Twitter account called “bring your dad to work day.”
Bring your dad to work day @thekjhenry 💛 pic.twitter.com/EYvNelxNaw
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 31, 2023
The father and son are extremely close. When Keith Henry needed a kidney, K.J., along with some help from his teammates, used NIL money to help his father get a new kidney and cover the medical expenses that would come with it.
K.J. Henry is one of Washington’s most talked-about rookies, as many believe he hasn’t reached his potential yet. Additionally, Henry’s maturity and leadership have been praised repeatedly.
It was good to see Keith Henry in Ashburn, watching his son realize his lifelong dream. It was a bonus that his son reached his dream of playing for his favorite team.
