Chad Hennings Son Chase: A Healthy Child Transformed Overnight
Chad Hennings’s mental health dived when he faced the harrowing experience of his son’s illness weeks after winning his third Super Bowl.
Chad is a former American defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). From 1992 to 2000, he won three Super Bowls in the NFL.
Key Takeaways
- Chad Hennings married Tammy, and they have two children, Chase and Brenna Hennings.
- Chase was unable to walk due to an inflammatory condition that ravaged his tiny body at the age of 2 and a half years.
- Chase has a degree in Entrepreneurship. He also earned a real estate license and an FAA license to fly drones commercially.
Chad Hennings, the son of William and Barbara Hennings, was born in Elberon, Iowa, on October 20, 1965. He is 59 years old as of 2025.
He started playing football at Benton Community High School and played college football for the Air Force Falcons.
Chad chose to attend the United States Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs despite being offered full scholarships from different universities.
He served nine years as a liaison officer to the Air Force Academy and left the U.S. Air Force in 1992.
Afterward, he joined the Dallas Cowboys and quickly became a key reserve on one of the best defensive line rotations in the NFL.
Chase Hennings Has Not Let His Situation Limit Himself
Chase Hennings, the son of Chad and Tammy Hennings, became unable to walk due to an inflammatory condition that ravaged his body and caused fever and rashes at the age of 2 and a half years.
His immune system attacked itself, affecting his joints and resulting in pain and inflammation.
Proud of my son Chase for receiving the Clint Bruce courage award #adaptivetrainingfoundation pic.twitter.com/d2kFDhyb75
— Chad Hennings (@chadhennings) April 7, 2019
Although this has improved with time, he has been unable to walk and has spent years using a wheelchair. Despite these difficulties, Chase has demonstrated resilience and strength.
He feels fortunate to have the support of his family and friends for anything he sets his mind to, having had the opportunity to travel and experience a wide range of activities.
His father, Chad, realized that his priorities had shifted away from athletics and performance during the chaotic and unpredictable following year.
He used to play a game and then fly his son to see a specialist on the West Coast and fly back the next day. He expressed,
“Doctors had no idea what was going on. And for the first time in life, I had a problem where I couldn’t control the outcome, that I couldn’t fix with my work ethic.”
Great way to spend an afternoon prior to @dallascowboys game. Fishing with the boys in neighborhood pond! pic.twitter.com/MewuIbNKET
— Chad Hennings (@chadhennings) January 5, 2019
Chad felt helpless and hopeless as a father. He said,
“What my kids wanted most from me was not all the material things that I was working to provide – they wanted me – my attention, my time and, most important of all, my love. I learned that this was the greatest gift I could give them.”
Chase Hennings has recovered from the illness. He studied at Coram Deo Academy and attended North Central Texas College.
Later, he transferred to the University of North Texas and graduated in the Fall of 2016 with a degree in Entrepreneurship.
He has a real estate license and an FAA license to fly drones commercially. He used these skills to create a company built around social media marketing and aerial photography.
Chase represents the principles his parents taught him alongside his sister Brenna. They have matured into responsible, loving, and successful young adults as of 2024.
The whole family resides in Flower Mound, Texas.
