Reggie White earned the nickname "The Minister of Defense" as a senior at Tennessee. The moniker surely had to do with something more than the fact that he became an ordained minister at the age of 17. That became instantly apparent when he began his pro football career.
White, who spent two seasons in the ill-fated United States Football League, made a memorable debut in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4 of the 1985 season. He collected 2.5 sacks, and deflected a pass that was intercepted and returned for touchdown. Despite the fact he played in only 13 games that season, White tied for the team lead with 13 sacks and was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year. The following season, White picked up 18 more sacks to earn his first of an astounding 13 straight Pro Bowl trips.
In 1987, White recorded one of the finest seasons ever posted by a defensive lineman. In the season debut against the Washington Redskins, he sacked quarterback Doug Williams, stripped the ball, and then picked it up and raced 70 yards for the first of his two career touchdowns. In just 12 games during the strike-shortened season White amassed 21 sacks to earn his first of two consecutive league sack titles.
In 1993, after recording 124 sacks in 121 games over eight seasons in Philadelphia, White became the first big name free agent to switch teams. He joined the Green Bay Packers and instantly helped turn the fortunes of the once-proud franchise.
The team steadily improved and, in 1996, returned to glory with White leading the NFL's topped ranked defense to playoff and Super Bowl victories. In Super Bowl XXXI he recorded a record three sacks.
Reggie played two more years in Green Bay. During that period he added 27 more sacks to his repertoire. After a one-year "retirement", White returned for a final season with the Carolina Panthers in 2000.
White retired as the NFL's all-time sack leader with 198. He was named to the NFL's All-Decade Teams of the 1980 and 1990s, the 75th Anniversary Team, and was voted first-team All-Pro 10 times in his 15-year career.
All-Pro: 1986DT (AP, PFWA, NEA), 1987 (AP, PFWA, NEA, SN, PW), 1988 (AP, PFWA, NEA, SN, PW), 1989 (AP, PFWA, NEA, PW), 1990 (AP, PFWA, NEA, PW), 1991 (AP, PFWA, NEA, SN, PW), 1992 (PFWA, NEA), 1993 (SN), 1995 (AP, PFWA, SN), 1998 (AP, PFWA, SN)
All-Pro Second Team: 1992 (AP), 1993 (AP), 1994 (AP), 1996 (AP), 1997 (AP)
All-NFC: 1986* (UPIDT, PW), 1987 (UPI, PW), 1988 (UPI, PW), 1989 (UPI, PW), 1990 (UPI, PW), 1991 (UPI, PW), 1992 (UPI, PW), 1993 (UPI, PW), 1994 (UPI, PW), 1995 (UPI, PW), 1996 (UPI, PW), 1998 (PW)
*Defensive Tackle. All other honors earned at Defensive End.
(13) - 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995*, 1996, 1997, 1998*, 1999
* Did not play
At time of his retirement following 2000 season
[1st] Most Sacks, Career - 198.0
[1st] Most Consecutive Seasons, 10 or more Sacks - 9 (1985-1993)
[Tied for 1st] Most Seasons Leading League, Sacks - 2 (1987-1988)
[2nd] Most Seasons, 10 or more Sacks - 12 (1985-1993, 1995, 1997-1998)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Sacks, Season - 21.0 (1987)
Super Bowl Records
[1st] Most Sacks, Game - 3.0 (SB XXXI, vs. New England)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Sacks, Career - 3.0
Post-Season Records
[2nd] Most Sacks, Career - 12.0
[Tied for 2nd] Most Sacks, Game - 3.0 (SB XXXI, vs. New England)
Team Records
Eagles' records held by White
Records through the 1992 season, White's final season with Philadelphia
[1st] Most Sacks, Career - 124.0
[1st] Most Sacks, Season - 21.0 (1987)
[Tied for 1st] Most Fumbles Returned for Touchdown, Career - 2
[Tied for 2nd] Most Sacks, Game - 4.0 (at Phoenix, Nov. 2, 1986; at Oakland, Nov. 30, 1986; at Minnesota, Sept. 25, 1988)
[3rd] Most Sacks, Season - 18.0 (1986, 1988)
Packers' records held by White
Records through the 1998 season, White's final season with Green Bay
[1st] Most Sacks, Career - 68.5
Post-Season Records
[1st] Most Sacks, Career - 8.0
[1st] Most Sacks, Game - 3.0 (SB XXXI, vs. New England)
[Tied for 1st] Most Games Played - 14 (1993-1998)
[2nd] Most Sacks, Game - 2.0 (at Detroit, Jan. 8, 1994)
NFL Statistical Championships
Sack Titles: 1987 PHI, 1988 PHI
NFC Statistical Championships
Sack Titles: 1987 PHI, 1988 PHI, 1993 GB, 1998 GB
Team Statistical Championships
Sack Titles: 1985 PHI, 1986 PHI, 1987 PHI, 1988 PHI, 1990 PHI, 1991 PHI, 1993 GB, 1995 GB, 1996 GB, 1997 GB, 1998 GB
PHI Philadelphia Eagles, GB Green Bay Packers
1987 Defensive MVP/Player of the Year (AP, NEA, PFWA, UPI-NFC)
1991 Defensive MVP/Player of the Year (PW, UPI-NFC)
1995 Defensive MVP/Player of the Year (UPI-NFC)
1998 Defensive MVP/Player of the Year (AP, PFWA)
75th Anniversary All-Time Team
1980s All-Decade Team
1990s All-Decade Team
All-Time NFL Team (NFL's Greatest publication)
Full Name: Reginald Howard White
Birthdate: December 19, 1961
Birthplace: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Died: December 26, 2004 at Huntersville, North Carolina
High School: Howard (Chattanooga, TN)
Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: February 4, 2006
Presenter: Jeremy White, Reggie’s son
Other Members of Class of 2006: Troy Aikman, Harry Carson, John Madden, Warren Moon, Rayfield Wright
Pro Career: 15 seasons, 232 games
Drafted: 1st round (4th player overall) in 1984 supplemental draft by Philadelphia Eagles