Last Updated on October 14, 2026 by Mariah Miranda
Matt Henningsen is an American professional football defensive end who plays for the Denver Broncos in the National Football League (NFL). Born Matthew D. Henningsen on July 9, 1999, in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, he played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison before being selected by Denver in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Beyond football, Henningsen is known for his exceptional academic achievements, engineering background and close relationship with his family.
Matt Henningsen’s parents are Peter Henningsen and Helen Henningsen, both former lawyers, while his three older brothers are Pete, Joe and Adam Henningsen. Wisconsin Athletics also identified a woman named Kelly as his girlfriend in September 2018, and a 2022 sports profile reported her full name as Kelly Messina. However, his current relationship status has not been independently confirmed. There are also no reliable public reports establishing that he has children.
Matt Henningsen’s Girlfriend: Who Is Kelly Messina?
Matt Henningsen was previously in a relationship with Kelly, identified in a 2022 report as Kelly Messina.
Their relationship was first documented by the University of Wisconsin’s official athletics department in September 2018.
During a feature about Henningsen’s first college football start, Wisconsin Athletics reported that his parents, two brothers and girlfriend Kelly attended the game at Camp Randall Stadium.
The publication described the emotional atmosphere surrounding the occasion, particularly because Henningsen was making his first appearance as a starting defensive lineman.
His girlfriend joined the family in supporting him during one of the most important moments of his early football career.
In August 2022, sports website YebScore published an article identifying Kelly by the surname Messina.
It described the couple as college sweethearts and reported that they appeared together on social media.
However, the publication did not provide a verified timeline establishing exactly when their relationship began.
How Did Matt Henningsen Meet Kelly Messina?
Matt Henningsen and Kelly were already dating by September 2018, when Wisconsin Athletics identified her as his girlfriend.
YebScore subsequently described their relationship as developing during his college years.
Nevertheless, the precise circumstances of their first meeting have not been independently established in major sports publications.
There is also insufficient reliable information about Kelly’s educational background, occupation or family.
Although she was publicly associated with Henningsen during his college career and early NFL years, that does not establish whether their relationship has continued.
Is Matt Henningsen Still Dating Kelly Messina?
Matt Henningsen’s current relationship with Kelly Messina has not been independently verified.
Wisconsin Athletics confirmed a girlfriend named Kelly in 2018, while the later YebScore report identified her as Kelly Messina in 2022.
However, more recent official team biographies and established sports coverage do not clearly confirm that they remain together.
It would therefore be inaccurate to describe Kelly as his current girlfriend without updated confirmation.
As of now, she is best described as his previously reported romantic partner.
Is Matt Henningsen Married?
There is no widely verified public confirmation that Matt Henningsen is married.
The Denver Broncos defensive lineman has not publicly announced a wedding or identified a wife in the reliable sources reviewed for this article.
Although older reporting established that he had a girlfriend, it does not prove that the relationship developed into marriage.
Consequently, his current marital status remains publicly unconfirmed.
Matt Henningsen’s Children: Does He Have Kids?
There are no publicly verified reports confirming that Matt Henningsen has children.
The NFL defensive lineman has not publicly announced the birth of a son or daughter through official team communications or established sports publications.
Most available information about his personal life concerns his parents, brothers, education and professional football career.
His official Denver Broncos and Wisconsin Badgers biographies also do not identify him as a father.
Although professional athletes sometimes prefer to keep information about their children private, there is currently no reliable basis for claiming that Henningsen has any.
As of now, no children have been publicly confirmed for Matt Henningsen.
Matt Henningsen’s Parents: Meet Peter and Helen Henningsen
Matt Henningsen was born to Peter Henningsen and Helen Henningsen in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
Both parents attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison and pursued careers in law.
Their commitment to education helped establish an academically focused household in which all four sons were encouraged to pursue university degrees.
During a September 2018 interview with Wisconsin Athletics, Peter and Helen discussed their youngest son’s development as a football player and student.
They explained that Matt had always maintained high personal expectations and demonstrated determination in pursuing his goals.
Matt Henningsen’s Father: Peter Henningsen
Peter Henningsen is Matt Henningsen’s father and a former legal professional.
He attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he completed his education before pursuing a career in law.
According to a January 2025 family profile published by EssentiallySports, Peter and his wife eventually retired from their legal careers.
Peter’s educational background helped shape the family’s emphasis on academic achievement.
However, he also encouraged his sons to participate in competitive sports.
All four Henningsen brothers played high school football, developing an appreciation for teamwork, competition and physical preparation.
How Peter Henningsen Supported His Son’s Football Career
One of Peter’s most memorable public interviews occurred in September 2018, when Matt earned his first starting opportunity at Wisconsin.
At the time, Matt was a redshirt freshman who had initially joined the university’s football program as a walk-on.
He was not expected to receive an immediate starting opportunity.
However, strong performances during training camp convinced the coaching staff that he was ready to contribute.
When Wisconsin opened its season against Western Kentucky on August 31, 2018, Henningsen became the first non-scholarship freshman to start a season opener for the Badgers since the school’s modern walk-on program began in 1990.
Peter attended the game alongside his wife and other family members.
During an interview with Wisconsin Athletics, he explained that the family had expected Matt to develop gradually before earning a significant role.
His rapid progress therefore came as a pleasant surprise.
Peter also emphasized that his son had chosen Wisconsin partly because of the university’s respected engineering program.
The family supported that decision because Matt was passionate about mathematics, science and football.
Matt Henningsen’s Mother: Helen Henningsen
Helen Henningsen is Matt Henningsen’s mother and a former lawyer who attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
According to EssentiallySports, she earned her law degree at Wisconsin and later pursued a professional career in the legal field.
Like Peter, Helen encouraged her children to value education and develop strong personal discipline.
The couple raised four sons who eventually attended the same university.
Helen regularly supported Matt’s sporting activities and was present when he made his first college football start.
How Helen Henningsen Encouraged Her Son
During Wisconsin Athletics’ September 2018 interview, Helen described Matt as someone who set ambitious personal goals and worked consistently to achieve them.
She explained that the family generally encouraged him rather than placing additional pressure on him.
Matt had already demonstrated considerable academic ability during high school.
He completed numerous Advanced Placement courses and entered Wisconsin with enough credits to pursue an accelerated academic pathway.
During his first two college semesters, he recorded a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
Those achievements were particularly meaningful because both parents had emphasized the importance of university education.
Helen remained supportive as her youngest son balanced demanding engineering coursework with college football.
Matt Henningsen’s Tribute to His Parents
Matt has publicly expressed appreciation for the sacrifices his parents made while raising him.
In January 2017, he shared an Instagram photograph with Peter and Helen and thanked them for their support.
According to EssentiallySports, the message emphasized how much he appreciated their encouragement and the opportunities they had provided.
His relationship with his parents became particularly relevant when he chose to attend Wisconsin despite receiving scholarship offers from other universities.
Rather than selecting a school solely because of immediate football opportunities, Matt prioritized academic quality and his family’s connections to the university.
The decision ultimately allowed him to succeed in both areas.
Matt Henningsen’s Siblings: Meet Pete, Joe and Adam Henningsen
Matt Henningsen has three older brothers named Pete, Joe and Adam Henningsen.
Their identities were directly confirmed by Wisconsin Athletics in September 2018.
Matt is the youngest of Peter and Helen’s four sons.
All four brothers played football at Menomonee Falls High School and attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
The older brothers’ academic and athletic experiences helped influence Matt’s college decision.
Pete Henningsen – Matt Henningsen’s Older Brother
Pete Henningsen is one of Matt’s three older brothers.
Like his siblings, Pete attended Menomonee Falls High School and later studied at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Wisconsin Athletics identified him among the family members who attended Matt’s first college football start in August 2018.
Pete’s experience at Wisconsin contributed to the family’s longstanding connection to the university.
Although he is part of Matt’s publicly documented family, reliable information about his occupation and private relationships remains limited.
Joe Henningsen – Matt Henningsen’s Older Brother
Joe Henningsen is another of Matt’s older brothers and has a background combining competitive athletics, engineering and medicine.
According to Wisconsin Athletics’ August 2018 feature, Joe helped establish an academic pathway that influenced his youngest brother.
Joe studied biomedical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison before attending medical school.
He subsequently became an orthopedic surgeon.
In a published physician interview, Dr. Joseph D. Henningsen explained that his engineering background influenced his decision to pursue medicine.
He originally enjoyed designing medical devices but became interested in working directly with patients.
He also discussed growing up in a household with three brothers who regularly competed in sports.
That combination of athletics and engineering eventually contributed to his interest in orthopedic surgery.
Joe’s professional journey provided an example of how academic and sporting interests could complement one another.
Matt later pursued electrical engineering while continuing his own football career.
Adam Henningsen – Matt Henningsen’s Older Brother
Adam Henningsen is Matt’s third older brother.
He also attended Menomonee Falls High School and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Alongside Pete, Adam attended Matt’s first college football start against Western Kentucky in August 2018.
His presence reflected the family’s support during an important milestone.
Although Adam has generally remained outside national sports coverage, Wisconsin Athletics independently confirms his relationship to Matt.
Reliable details about his current occupation and private life remain limited.
How Matt Henningsen’s Brothers Influenced His Education
The three older brothers were important influences on Matt’s decision to attend Wisconsin.
In an August 2021 interview published by the University of Wisconsin’s College of Engineering, Matt explained that he had always been interested in mathematics and science.
He had also followed his brothers’ educational experiences at the university.
Although other schools offered football scholarships, Wisconsin provided an opportunity to study engineering at a highly regarded university while competing in the Big Ten Conference.
Matt accepted a preferred walk-on opportunity and began his college career in Madison in 2017.
His decision eventually proved successful both academically and athletically.
Matt Henningsen’s Childhood and Family Background in Wisconsin
Matt Henningsen was born on July 9, 1999, in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, a community northwest of Milwaukee.
He grew up in a household where education and competitive sports were strongly encouraged.
During childhood, he developed interests in football, basketball, mathematics and science.
He attended Menomonee Falls High School, where he became an accomplished student-athlete.
During his senior season, he earned first-team All-State recognition as both an offensive and defensive lineman.
He was also named Greater Metro Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Beyond football, Henningsen participated in basketball and track and field.
He served as a basketball team captain and was a four-year high honor roll student.
He also belonged to the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society and National Science Honor Society.
Matt Henningsen’s Academic Success at Wisconsin
One of the most distinctive aspects of Henningsen’s background is his exceptional academic record.
He enrolled at Wisconsin in 2017, initially concentrating on electrical engineering.
Despite the demanding schedule associated with college football, he maintained outstanding grades.
He graduated summa cum laude in December 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a certificate in mathematics.
His undergraduate grade-point average was a perfect 4.0.
He subsequently pursued a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering, specializing in machine learning and signal processing.
In 2021, he became a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, one of college football’s leading academic awards.
He was also recognized as a National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete and earned multiple Academic All-American honors.
His academic success reflected the expectations established by his parents and the example provided by his older brothers.
Matt Henningsen’s Research in Medical Technology
Henningsen’s interests extended beyond classroom assignments.
During his university years, he participated in research involving artificial intelligence and medical imaging.
According to the University of Wisconsin’s Department of Radiology, he contributed to a multidisciplinary research project exploring how machine learning could improve the processing of brain scans.
The technology was designed to assist medical professionals in analyzing complex MRI images more efficiently.
His contributions demonstrated how skills developed through engineering could have practical applications in medicine.
The project also reflected the broader family’s interest in science, engineering and medical careers.
Matt Henningsen’s College Football Career
Henningsen began his Wisconsin football career as a walk-on in 2017.
After redshirting during his first season, he earned a starting opportunity in 2018.
He appeared in all 13 games that year and made ten starts, recording 32 tackles and one sack.
During the 2019 season, he contributed 24 tackles and four sacks while recovering two fumbles for touchdowns.
A biceps injury limited him to two games in 2020.
However, he returned for his final season in 2021 and started all 13 games.
He recorded 31 tackles and three sacks, earning consensus third-team All-Big Ten recognition.
Across his Wisconsin career, Henningsen appeared in 42 games, made 29 starts and recorded eight sacks.
Matt Henningsen’s NFL Career With the Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos selected Matt Henningsen with the 206th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
He became part of Denver’s defensive line rotation during his rookie season.
Henningsen appeared in all 17 regular-season games in 2022, recording 21 tackles and one sack.
His first NFL sack came against Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert on October 17, 2022.
He again appeared in all 17 games in 2023, contributing 19 tackles and two passes defended.
In 2024, he spent the season on Denver’s practice squad.
He signed a reserve/future contract in January 2025 but suffered a torn Achilles tendon during a joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers on August 7, 2025.
The injury prevented him from playing during the 2025 regular season.
Matt Henningsen’s 2026 Injury and Recovery
On March 11, 2026, Henningsen returned to the Broncos on a one-year contract.
He entered training camp hoping to earn another opportunity on Denver’s defensive line.
However, on August 7, 2026, Henningsen suffered another torn Achilles tendon, this time in his other leg.
The injury occurred exactly one year after his previous Achilles injury.
The Broncos placed him on season-ending injured reserve on August 8, 2026.
According to The Denver Gazette and NBC Sports, the injury meant that Henningsen would miss his second consecutive NFL season.
As of now, he remains associated with the Broncos on injured reserve while recovering from the injury.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matt Henningsen’s Family
Who is Matt Henningsen’s girlfriend?
Matt Henningsen previously dated a woman named Kelly, identified by a 2022 sports report as Kelly Messina. Wisconsin Athletics confirmed that Kelly attended his first college football start in 2018. Their current relationship status is not publicly verified.
Is Matt Henningsen married?
There is no widely verified public information confirming that Matt Henningsen is married. He has not publicly identified a wife through reliable recent reporting.
Does Matt Henningsen have children?
There are no publicly verified reports confirming that Matt Henningsen has children.
Who are Matt Henningsen’s parents?
Matt Henningsen’s parents are Peter Henningsen and Helen Henningsen. Both attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison and worked in the legal profession.
Who is Matt Henningsen’s father?
Matt Henningsen’s father is Peter Henningsen, a former lawyer who supported his son’s decision to attend Wisconsin for its engineering program and football opportunities.
Who is Matt Henningsen’s mother?
Matt Henningsen’s mother is Helen Henningsen, a former lawyer who encouraged her four sons to pursue academic and athletic achievement.
How many siblings does Matt Henningsen have?
Matt Henningsen has three older brothers: Pete, Joe and Adam Henningsen.
Who is Matt Henningsen’s brother Joe?
Joe Henningsen is Matt’s older brother and an orthopedic surgeon who studied biomedical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison before pursuing medicine.
Did Matt Henningsen’s brothers play football?
Yes. All three of his older brothers played football at Menomonee Falls High School before attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Where is Matt Henningsen from?
Matt Henningsen was born on July 9, 1999, in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
What did Matt Henningsen study in college?
Matt Henningsen earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering at Wisconsin, with graduate studies focused on machine learning and signal processing.
What happened to Matt Henningsen in 2026?
Matt Henningsen suffered a torn Achilles tendon during Broncos training camp on August 7, 2026. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve the following day.
What NFL team does Matt Henningsen play for?
Matt Henningsen is a Denver Broncos defensive lineman. He joined the organization through the 2022 NFL Draft and was placed on injured reserve during the 2026 season.
Mariah Miranda is a dedicated sports journalist specializing in comprehensive NFL coverage, playbook strategy, and team analytics. From offseason Draft planning and free-agency moves to weekly matchup breakdowns and playoff pushes, she delivers clear, data-driven analysis of every division in the league. Driven by a deep understanding of football tactics and locker-room dynamics, Mariah brings fans closer to the gridiron with sharp commentary and player updates.
