Reggie White

The Reverend Reginald Howard "Reggie" White (December 19, 1961 – December 26, 2004), nicknamed the "Minister of Defense" (a dual reference to his football prowess and to his Evangelical Christian ordination) was one of football's most prolific sackers in college, the USFL and the NFL.

Retirement

White suffered from fatigue, lung inflammation, shortness of breath and back pain in 1997, when he was diagnosed with a systemic inflammatory disease called sarcoidosis. He was treated and told that sarcoidosis goes away in some patients.

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Following the 1998 season, White announced his retirement, but in 1999 he said he spoke to God and was told to "fulfill his commitment", and thereafter signed with the Carolina Panthers for the 2000 season. However, he had a lackluster performance making just 15 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Following the season, White again retired.

Related Topics:
1998 - 1999 - God - Carolina Panthers - 2000

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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.

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White was also caught in the middle of the arson scares at predominantly African American churches during the mid-1990s. The Inner City Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, a church where White was an associate minister, was burned to the ground in 1996. However, an outpouring of financial support, in part because of White's celebrity, helped to rebuild the church.

Related Topics:
Arson - African American - 1990s - Knoxville, Tennessee - 1996

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He was married to the former Sara Copeland and has two children, Jeremy and Jecholia. It was discovered that he was related to college football player Kevin Rollins when he arrived at one of his games. Rollins went on to play for the Miami Dolphins but broke his hand playing in Amsterdam.

Related Topics:
Kevin Rollins - Miami Dolphins - Amsterdam

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On the morning of December 26, 2004, White died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 43. He 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 caused by the sarcoidosis he had lived with for years. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2063708 The Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's Office ruled that White died from cardiac and pulmonary sarcoidosis. http://autoimmunityresearch.org/autopsy.gif

Related Topics:
2004 - Cornelius, North Carolina - Huntersville, North Carolina - Cardiac arrhythmia - Sarcoidosis

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The Philadelphia Eagles intend to retire White's number 92 in a ceremony during the 2005 season.

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During a halftime presentation at Lambeau Field on September 18, 2005, White became only the fifth Green Bay Packer to have his number, 92, retired by the storied franchise. The Packers also plan to wear a helmet decal honoring White for all of their remaining games this season.

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The University of Tennessee also retired White's number 92 jersey at a halftime presentation on October 1st, 2005 during their game against the University of Mississippi. This retirement is only the third in the modern era of football at the University of Tennessee. As such a momentous occasion, a commemorative sign was unveiled in the south end of Neyland Stadium.

Related Topics:
University of Tennessee - University of Mississippi - Neyland Stadium

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The legendary defensive lineman, elected to 13 Pro Bowls out of 15 NFL seasons, is a front-runner for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. The same class of candidates include three-time Super Bowl champion Quarterback Troy Aikman of the Dallas Cowboys, CFL and NFL passing Quarterback legend Warren Moon, Wide Receiver Andre Reed and Running Back Thurman Thomas of the Buffalo Bills. White has already been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Related Topics:
Troy Aikman - Warren Moon - Andre Reed - Thurman Thomas

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