Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley took the field Sunday just hours after learning his brother’s death in Los Angeles.
Henley’s brother, Jabari Henley, 34, was fatally shot late Friday night. Police said he was struck multiple times while approaching a vehicle in South Los Angeles. No arrests have been made.
“Being transparent, I dropped to my knees,” Henley said after learning the news.
Daiyan Henley plays hours after brother’s death
Despite the tragedy, the 24-year-old decided to play in Sunday’s 27–20 win over the Tennessee Titans. He recorded seven tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection — one of his best performances of the season.
When he sacked Titans quarterback Cam Ward in the second quarter, Henley dropped to his knees and prayed.
Daiyan Henley records a sack just two days after his brother, Jabari, was tragically killed
Henley chose to play today in honor of Jabari 💙
(via @Chargers)
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 2, 2025
“I just wanted to talk to my brother one more time,” he said. “It was just an emotional moment for me just to be able to make a play on a day like this, just losing him so soon.
“Like I said, it’s been a long year for me, so I had to just send a prayer up and hopefully he heard it.”
After the game, Henley sat in his locker with a towel over his head as teammates consoled him. He later posted a photo on Instagram with tears in his eyes and the caption, “Love you big bro.”
Safety Derwin James said the entire locker room rallied around him.
“That kid’s been through so much, man,” James said. “He’s our green dot, our leader, our captain, and just being able to battle, bro, that’s tough. And for him to go out there, man, I got so much respect for him.”
Henley described Jabari as his best friend and protector.
“That’s like my best friend,” he said. “I called him a protector. One thing, he was a protector of our family.”
A rough year for Henley
Henley has endured a string of personal challenges this year.
In March, his father, Eugene “Big U” Henley, was arrested and charged with 43 counts tied to a racketeering investigation. Daiyan said he spoke to his father over the weekend, and his father urged him to play.
“I had a lot of pain, man, a lot of pain,” Henley said. “I just wanted to go out there and just let it out, whatever I had to get out.”
Earlier in the season, Henley battled a serious infection that caused him to lose 10 pounds and rely on an oxygen tank to get through a game.
“As traumatizing as all this is, I got a job to do,” Henley said. “For me, it was coming out here and handling a job first and then being emotional after, and everything hit me pretty hard.
“It’s probably been the worst year of my life, to be quite honest with you.”
