Daiyan Henley’s 2025 season didn’t unfold the way many expected - not after the flashes he showed in 2024. But if you’re just looking at the stat sheet or highlight reel, you’re missing the bigger picture.
Because what Henley went through off the field last year matters. And when you factor in the emotional weight he carried, plus the changes coming to the Chargers’ defense in 2026, it’s not hard to see why this upcoming season could be a turning point.
Let’s start with the human side - something we sometimes overlook in a sport built on toughness. Henley played through the loss of his brother in 2025.
That’s the kind of grief that doesn’t clock out when you walk into the facility. It lingers.
It clouds your focus. And for a linebacker - a position that demands split-second reads, anticipation, and emotional control - that kind of mental and emotional strain can show up in the smallest of ways: a missed read, a late trigger, a tackle just out of reach.
Still, Henley stayed on the field. He competed.
And while the consistency wasn’t what we saw in 2024, the effort never wavered. That says something about his character - and it gives us a lens through which to view his 2025 season with more clarity.
From a pure football standpoint, the tools haven’t gone anywhere. Henley still has that sideline-to-sideline speed that jumps off the tape.
He can cover ground in a hurry, and when he’s locked in, he has the ability to shut plays down before they even get started. That was the version we saw more often in 2024 - a player who trusted what he saw, played fast, and let his athleticism take over.
In 2025, that version showed up in flashes, but not consistently. There were moments of hesitation - just enough to throw off his timing or take away his edge.
But those are correctable issues, especially when they’re tied more to confidence than to physical decline.
That’s why 2026 is shaping up to be such a crucial year. With Chris O’Leary taking over as defensive coordinator, the Chargers are hitting a bit of a reset button on defense.
And that could be exactly what Henley needs. New scheme, new voices, new energy - sometimes that’s all it takes to unlock a player who’s already shown he has the talent.
Henley’s no longer the new guy trying to earn his reps. He’s a player with real experience now, someone who’s been through the ups and downs of the league and has a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed.
And with that experience comes a new kind of responsibility. Linebackers are often the glue of a defense - the ones who make sure everyone’s aligned, who communicate the calls, who keep the unit connected pre-snap.
Even if Henley isn’t the most vocal guy in the room, he’s in a position to lead by example. And after a year that tested him in every way, he’s got the chance to channel those lessons into something bigger.
The truth is, down years tend to reveal more about a player than breakout ones. They test your resolve.
They force you to adapt. And if Henley can take the growth from 2024 and combine it with everything he learned - and endured - in 2025, then 2026 could be the season where it all comes together.
Don’t be surprised if he emerges as one of the Chargers’ key defensive pieces this fall. Because the bounce-back potential is real - and Henley looks ready to seize it.