Reggie White facts for kids
White with the Green Bay Packers in December 1995
|
|||||||||||||
| No. 92, 91 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | December 19, 1961 Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. |
||||||||||||
| Died: | December 26, 2004 (aged 43) Cornelius, North Carolina, U.S. |
||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 300 lb (136 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Howard (Chattanooga, Tennessee) |
||||||||||||
| College: | Tennessee (1980–1983) | ||||||||||||
| Supplemental draft: | 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
|
Pro Football Hall of Fame
|
|||||||||||||
|
College Football Hall of Fame
|
|||||||||||||
Reginald Howard White (December 19, 1961 – December 26, 2004) was an amazing American football player. He played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. Reggie White was known for his incredible strength and speed. He was often called "the Minister of Defense" because he was also an ordained minister.
Reggie played college football at the University of Tennessee. After that, he played for the Memphis Showboats in the United States Football League (USFL). Later, he joined the NFL, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and Carolina Panthers. He became one of the most awarded defensive players in NFL history.
Reggie won the Super Bowl XXXI with the Green Bay Packers. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl 13 times. Reggie White is second all-time in NFL career sacks with 198. He is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Contents
Reggie White's Early Life
Reggie White was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He loved football from a young age. He played high school football at Howard High School. His coach, Robert Pulliam, was a former player from the University of Tennessee.
In his final year of high school, Reggie made 140 tackles and 10 sacks. He was named an All-American. Many people thought he was the best high school recruit in Tennessee. Reggie's mother said that when he was 12, he already knew he wanted to be a football player and a minister.
Playing College Football
Reggie White played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers from 1980 to 1983. He quickly became a key player.
Freshman Year Success
By the end of his first year, Reggie was a starter. He had 51 tackles and two sacks. He even blocked a punt that helped his team score. He won an award for being the most improved defensive player.
Sophomore and Junior Seasons
In his second year (1981), Reggie led his team with eight sacks. He also blocked three extra-point attempts. He was named "Southeast Lineman of the Week" for one of his great games. In 1982, an ankle injury slowed him down. Still, he led the team with seven sacks.
Senior Year Highlights
Reggie had an amazing senior year in 1983. He made 100 tackles and set a school record with 15 sacks. He was a consensus All-American and won the SEC Player of the Year award. He even sacked future NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason.
Reggie finished his college career with 32 sacks, which was a school record for many years.
Professional Football Career
After college, Reggie White became a professional football player. He played in two different leagues.
USFL: Memphis Showboats
Reggie started his pro career with the Memphis Showboats in the United States Football League (USFL). He played for two seasons in Memphis. He had 23.5 sacks during his time there.
NFL: Philadelphia Eagles
When the USFL stopped playing, Reggie joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 1985. He quickly made a big impact. In his first game, he had ten tackles and two-and-a-half sacks!
He played eight seasons with the Eagles. He became the team's all-time sack leader with 124 sacks. In 1987, he set an NFL record with 21 sacks in just 12 games. This means he averaged 1.75 sacks per game, which is incredible. Many consider him the greatest player in Eagles history.
NFL: Green Bay Packers
In 1993, Reggie White joined the Green Bay Packers. He signed a big contract worth $17 million. He played six seasons for the Packers. He added 68.5 sacks to his career total.
Reggie was also a great leader for the team. He helped the Packers win Super Bowl XXXI in 1997. In that Super Bowl, he set a record with three sacks in one game. This was his only championship win in football. In 1998, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the second time.
NFL: Carolina Panthers
After retiring for one year, Reggie came back to play in 2000. He played one season for the Carolina Panthers. He had five and a half sacks before retiring for good at the end of that season.
Reggie White's Retirement and Legacy
When Reggie White retired, he was the NFL's all-time sacks leader with 198 sacks. Later, Bruce Smith passed him. But if you count his USFL sacks, Reggie had 221.5 total sacks, making him the all-time professional football sacks leader.
He also had three interceptions and recovered 19 fumbles. He scored three touchdowns from fumble recoveries. Reggie was named an All-Pro in 13 of his 15 seasons. Many people believe Reggie White is one of the best defensive players ever in NFL history.
Reggie White's Christian Ministry
Reggie White was a deeply religious person. He became involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in college. He was ordained as a Baptist minister during this time. This is why he earned the nickname "Minister of Defense."
After his football career, Reggie continued his ministry. He co-produced TV programs about his faith. He also starred in a Christian film called Reggie's Prayer. In the movie, he played a football player who becomes a high school teacher and coach.
Reggie White made some public statements that caused disagreement. As a result, a TV network decided not to hire him for a sports show. Both the Packers and the NFL also spoke out about his statements.
Reggie White's Professional Wrestling Appearance
Reggie White even appeared in professional wrestling! In 1995, he was at WrestleMania XI to support another NFL player, Lawrence Taylor.
In 1997, Reggie actually wrestled a match for WCW at an event called Slamboree. He wrestled against Steve McMichael, another former NFL player. Reggie lost the match, but the crowd in Charlotte, North Carolina, cheered loudly for him.
Reggie White's Death and Honors
Reggie White passed away on December 26, 2004, at the age of 43. He died from a heart problem called cardiac arrhythmia. Doctors believed it was related to a condition he had called sarcoidosis and sleep apnea.
Reggie's wife, Sara, started the Reggie White Sleep Disorders Research and Education Foundation. This foundation helps people get treatment for sleep disorders.
Jersey Number Retirements
Reggie White's jersey number 92 was retired by three different teams and schools. This is a very special honor.
- The University of Tennessee retired his number on October 1, 2005.
- The Green Bay Packers retired his number on September 18, 2005. He was only the fifth Packer to receive this honor.
- The Philadelphia Eagles retired his number on December 5, 2005.
Reggie White is the only player in NFL history to have his number officially retired by more than one team.
Hall of Fame
Reggie White was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006, the first year he was eligible. He was honored at a ceremony in Canton, Ohio. His wife, Sara, gave his acceptance speech. His son, Jeremy, also spoke about his father's faith.
Reggie was also inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
Named Streets
Two streets have been named after Reggie White:
- In his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, a street was renamed Reggie White Boulevard in 2008.
- In Green Bay, Wisconsin, there is a street called Reggie White Way near Lambeau Field.
Images for kids
-
Reggie White's jersey at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
