(Photo via Air Force Athletics)

Few people in football history can claim a more successful career on and off of the field than Chad Hennings. Born and raised in Van Horne, Iowa, Hennings began his amazing career playing all over the field for his hometown Benton County High School Bobcats. He earned All-State honors in football and become the state's heavyweight wrestling champion his senior year.

“I started playing football in junior high in seventh grade,” Hennings said. “Everybody wanted to play, but that year was the first time we had an opportunity to play outside of what we did during recess and after school. I was in love with the game on day one, but I really think I became entrenched in it when I got into high school. That's where I got hooked and I got to see how the coaching and the training were really making me better overall.”

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His athletic and academic prowess earned him an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy, where Hennings would only continue his stellar play. He was moved to his permanent position of defensive tackle his sophomore year and would earn All-Western Athletic Conference Second Team honors in 1985. He would help guide the Falcons to their greatest season ever, going 12-1, winning the conference championship and defeating the University of Texas in that year's Bluebonnet Bowl. 

“When it came time for me to choose where I wanted to go to college, I wanted to have an experience beyond just attending a 'normal' school,” he said. “I was intrigued by the military aspect and I wanted to go somewhere that was going to challenge me mind, body, and spirit. Adjusting to that way of life was not too difficult because of my experience in athletics. There is a lot of synergy between those two worlds with mental preparedness, dedication, and working with others.”

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Before he finished his career in Colorado Springs, Hennings would become the WAC Defensive Player of the Year, a consensus All-American, and win the Outland Trophy. Over the next four years, he would train to become a fighter pilot for the Air Force, be deployed to the Persian Gulf twice as part of Operation Provide Comfort and be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. He would fly over 40 successful combat missions in his tenure in the Air Force, and he used this insight and perspective on his career in pro football over the next decade.

“The best part of my experience at the Air Force Academy was developing the relationships that I did,” Hennings said. “On the field, we had a lot of success and I played with a lot of great players and with some great coaches. What made it even more special was knowing that after we were done playing, after we were done in the classroom, we were going to fly missions with these guys. They were going to be your wingmen. The bonds that we established on the gridiron would ultimately help carry us through what turned out to be literal life-and-death situations.”

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In June 1992, Hennings was promoted to the rank of Captain. After leaving the service, he joined the Cowboys and would be a key cog in Dallas' three Super Bowl wins, all while serving in the Air Force Reserve. He would do both for the next nine years before stepping away from the game in 2000.

“I think what made that team what it was, as great as we were, was our selflessness,” Hennings said. “We had a number of future Hall of Famers, but everybody put the team first. The goal was not just to win games. Our goal was to win Super Bowls. That was our mentality and that carried over through the offseason into workouts and in practices. I've never been around a harder-working group of guys than that group and the results were proven out by our dedication.”

Chad Hennings during his playing days at Air Force (Photo via Air Force Athletics).

After retiring, Hennings knew two things; First, he knew he wanted to be a public speaker as he was comfortable in that role and that his story gave him a unique one to be able to share. He also knew he wanted to be involved in business in some way, which led him to the creation of his commercial real estate business.

“I always joked with my teammates that leaving the game would be easier for me because I had a real job before pro football,” he said. “I've always tried to pursue significance over success and in this part of my life. I'm involved in things like that that give satisfaction. I have a faith-based nonprofit called Wingmen Ministries, I have written three books, and I'm pretty active as a speaker talking to millennials and young adults about the aspects of character and leadership.”

In 2006, Hennings was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame and in 2013, he was awarded the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, which was given to six distinguished former college student-athletes on the 25th anniversary of completing their college sports careers. Despite all of his success, Hennings has maintained his focus, which he honed in the military and on the gridiron, and these lessons have allowed him to continue his mission of constantly striving for excellence in every aspect of his life.

“I have often said that football is the best leadership laboratory in terms of life that you can experience,” Hennings said. “The lessons that you learn can translate into every aspect of life, whether that's in personal relationships, in business, in school, in philanthropy, and most definitely in the military. For me, football taught me most the value of preparation. The season is won and lost in the offseason. You have to be willing to put in the work to be successful and that's a lesson that applies in life in everything you do.”