After eight NFL seasons, James White has decided to hang up his cleats for good. The Patriots Running Back make the announcement just hours before New England’s first pre-season game of 2022.
White had been struggling with a serious hip injury that caused him to miss 14 games last year, but the team clearly seemed hopeful he could return in 2022. In fact, the Patriots were so confident he would be able to return to the field they gave him a new two-year contract in March.
Despite the hip injury heading into 2022, White had hoped he could play this year, but as recently as July it looked like he was starting to realize a comeback might not be possible. White was still walking badly last month and, due to his injury, he clearly felt he couldn’t get back to his old form.
“It has been an honor to represent my family, my teammates and the people of New England as Patriots,” White said in a statement. “Thank you to Mr. Kraft, Coach Belichick and the entire Patriots organization for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my childhood dream. To be able to play my entire career for a franchise, in front of the best fans of the NFL, has been a huge blessing and honor.”
White ended up in New England after the Patriots made him a fourth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. During his eight seasons with the Patriots, he was a dual-threat player who improved attacking them whenever he was on the field.
Not only has he rushed for 1,278 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career, but he’s done even more damage through the air with 3,278 yards and 25 touchdowns in eight seasons.
White’s biggest game came in Super Bowl LI when he helped revive the Patriots’ victory after they trailed the Falcons 28-3. White took a throw from Tom Brady in overtime and scored the game-winning touchdown.
White arguably could have been the MVP of that game. Not only did he total for 139 yards (110 receiving and 29 rushing), but he also scored three touchdowns. Besides that two-yard winner, White also scored on a one-yard run with less than a minute left that tied the game at 28. He also caught a five-yard touchdown in the third quarter that reduced the Falcons advance. up to 28-9.
White caught 14 passes in this game, which is still the Super Bowl record.
