For years, TreVeyon Henderson dazzled fans with his explosive burst and incredible balance on the football field, but a far more unsettling story was hiding behind the highlights. Long before the New England Patriots drafted him, his nights were filled with paralysis, terror, and questions he could not answer.
This private battle shadowed his remarkable rise from Hopewell, Virginia, to Ohio State and, ultimately, into the NFL.
Try out PFSN’s FREE playoff predictor, where you can simulate every 2025-26 NFL season game and see how it all shakes out!
What Was the Private Battle TreVeyon Henderson Faced?
The fear began in his childhood and followed him all the way to college. In a conversation with “Go Long,” Henderson described terrifying nights when he was unable to move, feeling pinned to his bed while sensing a presence in the room. “It’s a fight to break out of it,” he told Go Long. “Sometimes my eyes are open, sometimes my eyes are closed. But I’m still awake.”
To make matters worse, his environment and emotions compounded the torment. Henderson grew up amid hardship, carried deep anger from family strain, and eventually sank into depression. Even as his success in football opened new doors and accolades began to pile up, the inner pain persisted. “Even with all of the success,” he said, “I was still broken inside.”
The situation reached a breaking point during his sophomore season at Ohio State. A significant foot injury not only sapped his trademark explosiveness but also stole the sport that had once defined him. This left him questioning his identity and purpose. “It was tough,” he said. “When football was stripped away from me, it really left me vulnerable.”
How Did Henderson Find a New Purpose?
However, the recovery process changed more than just his body. During his rehabilitation, Henderson was introduced to the Bible and began to reevaluate what he worshiped and why. He confronted the habits and priorities that had shaped his life and consciously redirected his focus. In his words, faith completely reset his foundation. “He set me free,” Henderson says, “just like that.”
Henderson believes this spiritual turning point finally ended the sleep paralysis and eased the anger and depression that had gripped him since his youth. He continued reading, reflecting, and sharing his story with teammates and community members. His goal was not to present himself as perfect but to reach anyone who felt trapped by the same kind of darkness. “I was in darkness,” he says. “And I started to see the light. That is my purpose.”
Now, as a member of the New England Patriots, Henderson wants to be known for more than just his carries and yards. He is motivated to help others name their pain, seek help, and pursue hope.
The perspective he gained through adversity now informs how he handles the immense pressure and inevitable setbacks of the sport. He accepts football’s inherent uncertainty while measuring his worth by something far steadier than statistics.
Ultimately, Henderson’s account is not a victory lap. Instead, it is a direct and personal invitation to anyone wrestling with fear, isolation, or despair to keep looking for answers and to keep going. Rooted in his own lived struggle, not theory, his message is clear for those who need to hear it: he has been there, too.