TreVeyon Henderson’s football journey has been a sprint, a grind, and a statement-all rolled into one. Just over a year ago, he was leading Ohio State to a national championship, capping off a dominant playoff run with a touchdown in the final seconds of the first half against Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Now, he’s preparing to take the field in Super Bowl LX, suiting up for the New England Patriots in a showdown with the Seattle Seahawks in San Francisco.
Henderson isn’t going alone. He’s one of three former Buckeyes in this year’s Super Bowl.
On his side, offensive lineman Thayer Munford is helping anchor New England’s front. Across the field, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is now catching passes for Seattle.
It’s a Buckeye reunion under the brightest lights in football.
“It’s been a good journey, but a tough journey at the same time,” Henderson said. And that’s not just talk.
After winning it all in college, Henderson barely paused to catch his breath. He took a week off, then dove headfirst into preparing for the next level.
That kind of quick turnaround isn’t just physically demanding-it’s mentally exhausting, too.
But Henderson didn’t shy away from the challenge. He leaned on his faith to push through the grind. “I thank God for giving me the strength and showing me the grace and helping me get through these adverse times,” he said.
That foundation proved critical early in his rookie season. Henderson saw limited action in his first eight games-just 53 carries in that stretch.
But as the season wore on, so did his impact. The opportunities started to come, and Henderson made sure he was ready.
In the final nine games of the regular season, he exploded for 683 rushing yards. By the end of the year, he led all rookie running backs in total yards with 1,341-a testament to his versatility and work ethic.
What’s made Henderson so valuable in New England’s offense isn’t just his ability to run between the tackles. He’s focused on becoming a complete back-one who can stay on the field all three downs.
“I like to work on every aspect of my game-running, pass blocking, and catching out of the backfield,” he said. “I want to be a back who can play on every down.”
That mindset didn’t come out of nowhere. Henderson credits his time at Ohio State for laying the foundation.
The physicality, the discipline, the relentless expectations-it all helped prepare him for the demands of the NFL. “Ohio State does a good job of really developing us and helping us prepare for the NFL,” he said.
“What they put us through was really tough, but it ended up paying off.”
As the season progressed, Henderson’s role became clearer, and his confidence grew with it. He wasn’t just filling in-he was becoming a fixture. Whether it was running the ball, protecting the quarterback, or catching passes out of the backfield, Henderson proved he could handle whatever was thrown his way.
Now, the rookie who once led the Buckeyes to glory is getting ready for the biggest game of his life. And through it all, he’s stayed grounded.
“I’m honestly grateful to be where we are now. Now we’re here in the Super Bowl,” he said. “It’s an amazing opportunity… but I wouldn’t be here without God.”
From Columbus to the NFL’s biggest stage, TreVeyon Henderson’s rise has been fast, focused, and fueled by faith. And on Super Bowl Sunday, he’ll have a chance to put one more exclamation point on a rookie year that’s already turned heads across the league.