Thomas Henderson

Thomas Henderson (born March 1, 1953), nicknamed "Hollywood", is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Oilers, and Miami Dolphins.

He played college football at Langston University.

Henderson was raised by his teenage mother on the east side of Austin, Texas and played football for the L. C. Anderson High School "B" team until his sophomore year (1969), when he moved to Oklahoma City to live with his grandmother and find a more stable environment.

Although as a senior he earned All-City honors playing defensive end at Douglass High School, he was not recruited by colleges because his career had been shortened, after having to sit out his junior year after transferring.

After graduation Henderson joined the Air Force, but quit before being sworn in.

Henderson was a walk-on for the football team at the NAIA Langston University.

His personality earned him the nickname "Wild Man" and helped him become a two-time small-college All-American defensive end.

As a senior, he contributed to the team's 11–1 record and a playoff appearance.

He was named Southwest district Defensive Player of the Year.

He started 45 straight games in his college career.

He also practiced track and field, competing in the 100-yard dash (9.5 seconds) and the triple jump (49 feet).

Henderson was selected in the first round (18th overall) of the 1975 NFL Draft, as part of the Dallas Cowboys Dirty Dozen draft.

As a rookie, he focused on special teams.

He returned a reverse handoff for a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown (fourth in franchise history) during the second game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

He blocked a punt in the fourteenth game against the New York Jets.

In 1976, he competed with D.D. Lewis for the starting strongside linebacker position.

He remained as a backup and core special teams player.

He blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety in the twelfth game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

In 1977, he was named the starting strongside linebacker over Randy White, who was moved to defensive tackle.

He posted 53 tackles, 3 interceptions, one sack (unofficial) and 2 fumble recoveries.

He returned an interception for a 79-yard touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He also claimed that he introduced the crossbar slam dunk celebration into the NFL at the end of the play.

He led the team with 7 tackles in Super Bowl XII.

Henderson gave himself the nickname "Hollywood" for his flamboyant play and high-visibility lifestyle.

In 1978, he couldn't start in 3 games because of an ankle injury.

He returned an interception for a 68-yard touchdown (including a crossbar slam dunk) in the 28–0 NFC championship win against the Los Angeles Rams.

Before Super Bowl XIII he started a war of words against the Pittsburgh Steelers, that ended up with him sharing a Newsweek magazine cover with quarterback Terry Bradshaw.

He also pinned Bradshaw's arms, allowing linebacker Mike Hegman to steal the ball and run 37 yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl XIII.

He was selected to the Pro Bowl at the end of the season.

Even though he had great potential as a player, Henderson's destructive lifestyle of drugs and alcohol began to catch up with him.

During many games, he snorted liquid cocaine from an inhaler he hid in his pants.

The final straw came in 1979, during the twelfth game against the Washington Redskins at RFK Stadium.

While his team was being soundly beaten 34–20 on national television, Henderson mugged for the camera and displayed handkerchiefs with the Cowboys team logo.

When interviewed about it, he blamed teammate Preston Pearson, saying that Pearson had asked him to show off the handkerchiefs, which Pearson was marketing, as a favor.

Coach Tom Landry was so angered by the episode that after threatening to waive him, he instead deactivated Henderson for the remainder of the season by placing him on the reserve-retired list.

According to sources close to the team, Landry did not intend for Henderson to ever play for the Cowboys again, even though the coach was still personally fond of Henderson.

On May 15, 1980, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a fourth round draft choice (#91, Scott Pelluer).

On September 19, he was waived after only playing one game.

In 2002, he was inducted into the Langston University Athletic Hall of Fame.

In 2018, he was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.