Chad William Hennings, born on October 20, 1965, is an American former professional football defensive tackle who played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Beyond his achievements on the football field, Hennings is a decorated Air Force veteran and a dedicated family man. This article delves into the various aspects of his life, from his early years to his post-football career.
Chad Hennings at a speaking engagement
Early Life and Education
After being offered full scholarships from different universities, Chad chose to attend the United States Air Force Academy, near Colorado Springs. Hennings starred on the Cowboys. Hennings' storied legacy and success began early on when he was an all-star football player at Benton Community High School in Van Horne, Iowa.
Air Force Academy
Hennings was moved to defensive tackle in his sophomore season, became a starter and made the All--WAC second-team.
That 1985 season was the greatest in Air Force history as the Falcons went 12-1, were conference co-champions, defeated Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl and placed fifth in the final coaches poll.
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His senior year in 1987, he led the nation with 24 sacks, was a unanimous first-team All-American selection, received the Stan Bates Award as the conference's top scholar-athlete, earned defensive player of the year honors from the Western Athletic Conference and the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman.
Hennings is a member of the Western Athletic Conference all-time team and was named WAC defensive player of the decade for the 1980s.
He was inducted into the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006, and was in the inaugural class of the Air Force Academy Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.
Air Force Academy
Air Force Career
Despite facing an obligation to enter the Air Force upon graduating the Academy, he was drafted in the eleventh round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Air Force Academy in June 1988, Hennings entered undergraduate pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base, in Wichita Falls, Texas, as part of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) Program conducted by the 80th Flying Training Wing.
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ENJJPT is an elite program, and when his ground training studies faltered (he had been an honor student at AFA), his squadron commander isolated him from all contact regarding the Dallas Cowboys, who had drafted him in April 1989.
After UPT, Hennings completed Lead-In Fighter Training and because of his size, was eligible only for F-111, F-15 Eagle, or A-10 Thunderbolt II RTU.
While with the 92d TFS, Hennings deployed twice to the Persian Gulf.
From April to June 1991, and October 1991 to January 1992, based at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Henning flew 45 A-10 missions in support of Operation Provide Comfort, an effort that helped provide relief and humanitarian aid to Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq.
He was twice awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal, a humanitarian award and an Outstanding Unit Award for his actions in the service.
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After the 1991 Gulf War, the United States military underwent an across the board reduction in budget and Hennings was able to have the remaining four years of his active-duty commitment (service academy and rated pilot) waived, which was unprecedented at the time.
Chad Hennings’ Super Bowl Flight to Championship Success
NFL Career
Hennings didn’t join the Cowboys until 1992, he was actually drafted in 1988 following a stellar career at The Air Force Academy in which he won All-America honors as well as the 1987 Outland Trophy Award.
In 1995, he registered his first starts while Leon Lett was serving a four-game suspension. He spent nine seasons with the team, before retiring after missing half of the 2000 season with injuries.
During his NFL career, Chad achieved remarkable success, winning three Super Bowl championships with the Dallas Cowboys.
Reflecting on the camaraderie within the team, Chad likened it to the brotherhood experienced in the Air Force, emphasizing the importance of relationships and shared goals in achieving success.
Personal Life
Hennings is married to Tammy and has two children: a son named Chase and a daughter named Brenna.
Family Challenges
Chad shared how early on in his fatherhood journey, his oldest son, Chase, only 2-years-old, experienced adverse effects from a vaccination. This created a lot of uncertainty in their family. As years went on, Chase continued to worsen and experienced immense pain.
Chad shares how this family crisis affected his marriage, his outlook on life and ultimately his journey as a father. He believes our legacy is defined by how we live our life and raise our kids to thrive.
Post-Football Career
Following his football career, Hennings became a Christian motivational speaker and author. Through his organization, Wingmen, Chad desires to see others find the joy and excitement in life that he has been privileged to experience in so many ways, public and private.
As a speaker, today, Chad confronts the disconnection men feel, sharing life lessons he’s learned that stresses crafting character and vision for one’s self, finding fulfillment, healing the troubled past, developing a work ethic and living your spirituality.
Community Involvement
Since retiring from football seven years ago, Hennings remains in North Texas and keeps busy as a husband to Tammy and father to son, Chase, and daughter, Brenna. He and his family remain committed to many worthy causes and organizations, including the Ft.
Hennings approached the Cowboys and asked for the donation of merchandise as a way of linking “America’s (football) Team” with the true heroes of the real America’s Team.
Hennings finds it ironic that the true heroes - the military men and women who serve our country.
Awards and Honors
- Stan Bates Award
- Outland Trophy
- Air Force Achievement Medal (2)
- Outstanding Unit Award
- Super Bowl Champion (3)
- College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Stan Bates Award | 1987 |
| Outland Trophy | 1987 |
| Air Force Achievement Medal | 1991, 1992 |
| Super Bowl Champion | 1993, 1994, 1996 |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inductee | 2006 |
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