BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Reginald Howard "Reggie" White (December 19, 1961 – December 26, 2004) was an American college and professionalfootball player who was a defensive end and defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons during the 1980s and 90s. He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and was recognized as an All-American. After playing two professional seasons for the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League (USFL), he was selected in the first round of the 1985 Supplemental Draft, and then played for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, andCarolina Panthers, becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history.
The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 13-time Pro Bowl and 12-time All-Pro selection holds second place all-time among career sack leaders with 198.5 (behind Bruce Smith's 200 career sacks) and was selected to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, and the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team. During his professional career, he was also known for his Christian ministry as an ordained Evangelical minister, leading to his nickname, "the Minister of Defense". White is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Early years
White was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He played high school football at Howard High School under Coach Robert Pulliam, a former defensive lineman at Tennessee. During his senior year, White recorded 140 tackles (88 solo) and 10 sacks, and received All-American honors. He was rated the number one recruit in Tennessee by the Knoxville News Sentinel.[1][2]
College career
White played college football at the University of Tennessee from 1980 to 1983. He had worked his way into the starting lineup by the end of his freshman year, in which he registered 51 tackles (32 solo) and two sacks, recovered two fumbles, and blocked a punt that set up Tennessee's first score in the team's 23-10 win over Georgia Tech.[3] He was awarded the "Andy Spiva Award", given annually to the Vols' most improved defensive player.[4]
As a sophomore during the 1981 season, White registered 95 tackles (61 solo), a team-leading eight sacks, and a team-leading seven tackles-for-loss. He also blocked three extra-point attempts.[5] He had 10 tackles and two sacks, one of which resulted in a safety, against Memphis State, and was named the team's "outstanding defensive player" for the game.[6] For his performance in Tennessee's 10-7 win over Georgia Tech, which included a late fumble recovery that sealed the Vols' victory,[6]he was named "Southeast Lineman of the Week" by UPI.[7] White had eight tackles in Tennessee's 28-21 victory overWisconsin in the 1981 Garden State Bowl, and was named the game's "Best Defensive Player".[6] At the end of the season, he was named to the Sophomore All-American team by The Football News.[7]
White was named a Preseason All-American going into the 1982 season,[6] but was consistently bothered by an ankle injury, and his production dropped off.[8] While he registered just 47 tackles (36 solo), he nevertheless led the team with seven sacks, and was third only to teammates Mike Cofer and Carlton Peoples in "big plays".[9] His best game of the season came in the Vols' 24-24 tie against LSU, in which he registered eight tackles, including a sack and a fourth-down stop.[8] He had eight tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in Tennessee's 28-22 loss to Iowa in the 1982 Peach Bowl.[10]
Determined to improve upon what he considered a disappointing junior campaign,[11] White erupted during his senior season in 1983, registering 100 tackles (72 solo), a school single-season record 15 sacks, 9 tackles-for-loss, and an interception.[12]Although Pittsburgh defeated Tennessee 13-3 in the season opener, White consistently kept the Panthers' offense off balance, in spite of being lined up against the Panthers' All-American offensive lineman Bill Fralic.[13] He had two sacks in Tennessee's 31-6 win over New Mexico, and a school single-game record four sacks in the Vols' blowout win over the The Citadel.[14] White was named "Southeast Lineman of the Week" for his disruptive performance– which included 12 tackles and three sacks– in Tennessee's 20-6 win over LSU,[15] and he twice sacked Alabama quarterback Walter Lewis in Tennessee's 41-34 win over the Tide.[13] In Tennessee's 30-23 win over Maryland in the 1983 Florida Citrus Bowl, White sacked heralded Maryland quarterback Boomer Esiason in the second quarter, knocking him out of the game.[16] White was a consensus All-American, SEC Player of the Year, and a Lombardi Award finalist.[17]
During his tenure at Tennessee, White registered 293 tackles (201 solo), 32 sacks, 19 tackles-for-loss, four fumble recoveries, and seven batted-down passes.[18] As of the 2013 season, his 32 career sacks and 15 sacks in a season (in 1983) remained school records.[19] His school single-game record of four sacks (against The Citadel in 1983) stood until 2013, when Corey Miller had four and a half sacks against Kentucky.[20]
Professional career
USFL
Memphis Showboats
After college, White signed with the Memphis Showboats of the USFL. He played for Memphis for two seasons, starting in 36 games. As a member of the Showboats, he racked up 23.5 sacks, 198 tackles, and seven forced fumbles.
NFL
Philadelphia Eagles
When the USFL collapsed in 1984, White was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles, which held his NFL rights. He played with the Eagles beginning in 1985 for eight seasons, during which he picked up 124 sacks, becoming the Eagles' all-time sack leader. He also set the Eagles' regular-season record with 21 sacks in a single season (1987). White also became the only player to ever accumulate 20 or more sacks in just 12 games. He also set an NFL regular-season record during 1987 by averaging the most sacks per game, with 1.75 sacks per game. Over the course of his tenure with the Eagles, White actually accumulated more sacks than the number of games he played. He was voted by ESPNSportsnation as the greatest player in Eagles' franchise history.[21] In 1991, he set the record for most passes defended in a single season by a defensive lineman with 13, a mark that has been since broken by JJ Watt.[22]
Green Bay Packers
In 1993, White became a free agent. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers, where he played for six seasons. White notched up another 68.5 sacks to become, at the time, the Packers' all-time leader in that category (second now to Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, who has 74.5 registered sacks). White was also just as valued for his role as a team leader. He helped the Packers to two Super Bowls, including a victory in Super Bowl XXXI. That victory was the only championship in which White ever shared at any level. In 1998, White was named theNFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Carolina Panthers
In 2000, he came out of a one-year retirement and started all 16 games for the Panthers. White had five and a half sacks and one forced fumble while with the team. He again retired at the end of the 2000 season.
NFL stats
| Year | Team | Games | Combined Tackles | Tackles | Assisted Tackles | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | Fumble Recoveries | Fumble Return Yards | Interceptions | Interception Return Yards | Yards per Interception Return | Longest Interception Return | Touchdowns | Passes Defended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | PHI | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | PHI | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | PHI | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | PHI | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | PHI | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | PHI | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | PHI | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | PHI | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | GB | 16 | 76 | 57 | 19 | 13.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1994 | GB | 16 | 50 | 36 | 14 | 8.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 1995 | GB | 15 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 12.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1996 | GB | 16 | 38 | 29 | 9 | 8.5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 0 | 6 |
| 1997 | GB | 16 | 45 | 31 | 14 | 11.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 1998 | GB | 16 | 46 | 33 | 13 | 16.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2000 | CAR | 16 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 5.5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 232 | 312 | 232 | 80 | 198.0 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 79 | 26 | 46 | 0 | 29 |
Retirement
At the time of his retirement, White was the NFL's all-time sacks leader with 198. (He has since been surpassed by Bruce Smith, who has 200.) Counting his time in the USFL, White has 221.5 sacks in top-level professional football, making him professional football's all-time sacks leader. White also recorded three interceptions, which he returned for 79yards. He recovered 19 fumbles, which he returned for 137 yards and three touchdowns. His 9 consecutive seasons (1985–1993) with at least 10 sacks remain an NFL record. He was named an All-Pro for 13 of his 15 seasons, including eight as a first-team selection.
Professional wrestling
White appeared on screen at two professional wrestling events, wrestling one match. In April 1995, he was ringside as part of Lawrence Taylor's "All-Stars" for his match againstBam Bam Bigelow at WrestleMania XI. During the show, he participated in one backstage segment with the All-Stars, calling out Money Inc. member Irwin R. Shyster. Before and during the actual match, the All-Stars and Money, Inc. teams were involved in a scuffle, in which White participated.
On May 18, 1997, White wrestled his only professional wrestling match for WCW at Slamboree. He wrestled fellow NFL (and LT's All-Star team mate) alumnus Steve McMichael. The two men emulated football tackles during their bout. White received a warm response from the professional wrestling crowd in Charlotte, North Carolina, but nonetheless lost to McMichael after being hit with a steel Zero Halliburton briefcase secretly given to McMichael by his valet (and then-real life wife) Debra McMichael.
Christian ministry
White became involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes while at Tennessee, and expressed an interest in becoming an evangelist as early as his sophomore year in 1981.[3] He became an ordained Baptist minister during this period.[11] He had acquired the nickname "the Minister of Defense" by the time he was a senior.[13]
In White's last year of football, a friend reportedly gave White a teaching CD from Messianic teacher Monte Judah. Following his retirement, White began studying Torah andTorah-observant Messianic theology.[24] White also studied Hebrew under Nehemia Gordon. In October 2003, White was interviewed by Messianic teacher and televangelistMichael Rood, and he discussed his studies of Torah. The interview was broadcast on February 4 and 6, 2005, on the Sky Angel cable channel. Following White's death, the January 2005 edition of Messianic magazine Yavoh was dedicated to him as a "Messianic Believer", leading to confusion regarding White's religious beliefs. Some reported— incorrectly— that White had abandoned Christianity and was studying Judaism.[citation needed] White was touched by the African American church arson scares during the mid-1990s. The Inner City Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, where White was an associate minister, burned to the ground in 1996.
In 1996, White starred with Pat Morita in Reggie's Prayer, a Christian film. He plays the main protagonist, "Reggie Knox", a football player who retires after the 1996 season to become a 10th-grade language arts teacher and head coach of a high school football team in Portland, Oregon. The film also had appearances by his Packers teammates Brett Favre and Mike Holmgren as janitors, and Keith Jackson as an assistant coach. M.C. Hammer plays a park ranger.[25]
Controversy[edit]
White created a stir in March 1998 with his comments before the Wisconsin state legislature, invoking racial stereotypes of Latinos, Asians, whites, blacks, and Native Americans. He stated that these diverse "gifts" of each race, "formed a complete image of God [...] because He was trying to create Himself". An image that society had pushed aside, leading to the aversion of racial unity. He specified that, "without assimilation, there's no desegregation, nor is there integration, because people of all ethnic backgrounds have to be able to compete economically in order to build their families."
In an interview with ABC's 20/20, White made comments about gays and lesbians. White became an ally of organizations opposed to homosexuality; he appeared in a newspaper advertising campaign to convince gays and lesbians that they could "cease" their homosexuality. As a result, CBS withdrew a five-year, $6-million contract for being a part of thepregame panel because of his statements calling homosexuality a sin.[26][27] Both the Green Bay Packers and the NFL objected to the ads, since White had appeared in his football uniform without the consent of the team or the league. Later versions of the ad removed the uniform.
Personal
White was married to the former Sara Copeland, with whom he had two children, Jeremy and Jecolia.
Death
On the morning of December 26, 2004, White was rushed from his home in Cornelius, North Carolina, to a nearby hospital in Huntersville, North Carolina, where he was pronounced dead. White had suffered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia. The most likely cause of this, according to the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's Office, was the cardiac and pulmonary sarcoidosis with which he had lived for years.[28] It was also stated that sleep apnea, which White was known to suffer from,[29] may have contributed to his death.[30] His grave site is situated at Glenwood Memorial Park, Mooresville, North Carolina.[31]
Accolades
Jersey number retirements
During the 2005 season, two NFL teams and the University of Tennessee retired White's number 92 jersey.
The University of Tennessee retired White's jersey at a halftime presentation on October 1, 2005, during their game against the University of Mississippi, the third such retirement in the modern era of football at the school; a commemorative sign was also unveiled in the south end of Neyland Stadium. During a halftime presentation at Lambeau Field on September 18, 2005, White became the fifth Green Bay Packer to have his number retired by the franchise. On December 5, 2005, the Philadelphia Eagles retired his jersey in a halftime ceremony during the Eagles' Monday Night Football game with the Seattle Seahawks, which were coached by Mike Holmgren, White's former coach in Green Bay. White became the first player in NFL history to have his number officially retired by multiple teams. The Packers and the Eagles also wore a helmet decal honoring White for the remaining games in the season.
White was elected to the Professional Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot on February 4, 2006. He was enshrined at a ceremony on August 5, 2006 inCanton Ohio. White's widow, Sara White, delivered her husband's acceptance speech at the ceremony. She was introduced by their son, Jeremy White, who also released the first copies of his autobiography, In His Shadow: Growing Up With Reggie White, during the Hall of Fame weekend in honor of his father. Jeremy thanked the "God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" in his introduction, echoing Reggie White's dedication to his faith.
White was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
Named streets
The official sign hanging for Reggie White Boulevard took place on Monday, December 8, 2008, at 2 p.m. at the intersection of 20th and Carter Street inChattanooga, Tennessee. White’s mother, Thelma White Collier, along with other family and friends, were on hand to witness the change to Reggie White Boulevard. The official name change was approved by the Chattanooga City Council on November 4, 2008.
The Reggie White Way in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is off Lombardi Avenue near Lambeau Field.
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