Jim White (defensive end)
James Charles White (September 5, 1948 – 1982) was an American football defensive end for the New England Patriots, the Houston Oilers, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Denver Broncos of the National Football League, as well as the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Colorado State.[1][2]
| No. 76, 78, 79, 87 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive end, tight end |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | September 5, 1948 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died: | 1982 (aged 33–34) |
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight: | 256 lb (116 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Francis W. Parker (Chicago, Illinois) |
| College: | Northeastern J. C. (1966–1967) Colorado State (1968–1970) |
| NFL Draft: | 1972 / Round: 3 / Pick: 73 |
| Career history | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Player stats at PFR | |
College football career
After spending two years in community college at Northeastern Junior College,[2] White attended Colorado State University, where he played for the Colorado State Rams football team and lettered from 1968 to 1970.[3]
Professional football career
BC Lions
White signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League in 1971. He played in 12 games with the Lions at left defensive end and tight end, making two receptions for 28 yards.[2] He was considered one of the best defensive linemen in the CFL.[4]
New England Patriots
White was selected in the third round of the 1972 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, with the 73rd pick overall. The Patriots considered that he may have had potential to be the best defensive rookie in the NFL, and possibly even the best defensive lineman in all of professional football.[4]
White played in 13 games with the Patriots, starting six of them. He recorded one sack in 1972.[1]
The Patriots waived White on September 6, 1973.[5]
Miami Dolphins
On September 10, 1973, the Miami Dolphins signed White to their futures list.[5] He never played a game with the team.
Houston Oilers
White signed with the Houston Oilers in 1974. He played with the team for two seasons, playing in twelve games in 1974 and all fourteen games in 1975. He recorded 3.5 sacks and one fumble recovery with the Oilers.[1]
The Oilers waived White on September 9, 1976.[5]
Seattle Seahawks
Later on September 9, White was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks for their inaugural season. He played in the team's first two games, both losses against the St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Redskins, before being released on September 27, 1976.[5][6]
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos signed White in late October of 1976.[6] As a Bronco, he played in seven games with one start, and recorded one fumble recovery.[1] He also made ten tackles and blocked a field goal.[7]
Death
White died in 1982 of liver cancer, which had been attributed to his possible steroid use. This may make him the first NFL player to have died largely due to steroid use.[8][9]
References
- "Jim White Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
- "Jim White NFL Stats - Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
- "2021 Colorado State Football Media Guide" (PDF). 2021-08-16.
- "1972 New England Patriots Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-03-22.
- "Football Transactions Search Results". www.prosportstransactions.com. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- "Jim White Career Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
- "Denver Broncos 1977 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-03-22.
- SteelersFan, Tim. "The Steelers, Steroids, and Profound Misconceptions". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
- Harkavy, Ward. "Fight, Team, Fight!". Westword. Retrieved 2022-03-22.