Minnesota Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson, or better known at National Geographic as “Lionbacker,” has taken his love for felines to a new level. Last year, Henderson committed to donating $1,000 to Nat Geo’s Big Cats Initiative for every time he sacks an opposing quarterback in the regular season. Henderson named the campaign “Sacks for Big Cats,” and is fully committed, with five big cat tattoos to boot.
Last July, Minneapolis-based commercial and portrait photographer David Ellis was contacted by National Geographic Discovery to shoot Henderson for a promotion of the Big Cat Week on the Discovery Channel.
The two-day assignment was a perfect fit for the sports fitness section of David’s portfolio. He shot stills alongside the film crew, and the planning involved working around access to the Vikings’ training facility and Metrodome. The shoot schedule and Henderson’s availability were all put together by the producer.
Henderson has been drawn to lions from an early age and hopes that his actions will inspire NFL fans and players to act on behalf of big cats before it’s too late.
David had fun with the assignment, saying that Henderson was very accommodating and put in a great effort. He has also received positive feedback since the release:
“I’ve gotten a great response to the images. I do a lot of work for fitness clubs and while they don’t cater to professional athletes, they certainly have a look that was of interest to my clients.”
View the full video below: