Chris Henderson's name is on the Rapids’ all-time leaderboard in assists, goals, games played, games started, and minutes played. His impact on the team's history is undeniable, as is his spot as a midfielder in the club's All-Time Best XI.
Henderson joined the club in its inaugural season in 1996 and started 29 games, scoring three goals and registering eight assists en route to the team’s first-ever MVP award. His contributions continued during 1997, as he led the Rapids to their first MLS Cup appearance. His incredible scissor-kick strike late in the Western Conference final is one of the club's best and most important goals as it secured a spot in the championship match.
Through seven seasons with the team, from 1996-1998 and again from 2002-2005, Henderson was selected to the MLS All-Star Team twice. In total, he contributed 31 goals, the 5th most in club history, and a club-leading 53 assists. The combined 84 goals and assists is the most by any player in the history of the Rapids, and, in 2007, he was elected to the team's Gallery of Honor.
The list of achievements for Henderson goes beyond the pitch. In 2004, he launched the Chris Henderson Foundation, a charitable organization that grants to aid underprivileged kids. He was then named the 2004 MLS Humanitarian of the Year, receiving the same honors with the club. Henderson was active in a number of charitable endeavors during and after every season, serving as the club's spokesperson for Rapids Car Seat Safety, the Special Olympics, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Pro Active Pro Athletes against Domestic Violence.
Rapids fans have voted 'Hendy' as a member of the club's All-Time lineup and the stats easily show why. The goals and assists steal the show, but it was Henderson's charismatic smile and passion that left a lasting legacy, as he helped build the foundation of the club in its formative years.
