Encapsulating the dreams and desires of NFL players, Vince Lombardi once remarked, “Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. It’s something we call heart power. Once a man has made this commitment, nothing will stop him short of success.” James White is no different, as he led his Patriots team to numerous accomplishments and victories throughout a career founded on grit and determination.
James White starred for the New England Patriots for 8 seasons as a running back, helping to lead his team to three separate Super Bowl championships in the process. A Fort Lauderdale, Florida native, White was drafted in the 4th round of the 2014 NFL draft. Before his NFL career commenced, he played college football for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2010, a performance that propelled the Badgers to a playoff berth in the historic Rose Bowl. Just last year, White was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Wisconsin-Madison, where he holds the record for the most receiving yards as a running back.
Coached by the legendary Bill Belichick and starring in a dynamic offense that also featured Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, and Rob Gronkowski, White helped establish the New England Patriots as one of the NFL’s most prominent and storied franchises. He currently holds multiple Super Bowl records: most receptions in a Super Bowl (14), most points in a Super Bowl (20), and, finally, the most touchdowns in a Super Bowl (3). White concluded his NFL journey with 3,784 total yards and 28 total touchdowns. He was also given a nickname by his Patriot teammates, “Sweet Feet,” originating from his high school days at St. Thomas Aquinas. His adept footwork was on display February 5th, 2017, when White scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime at Super Bowl LI (the famous “28-3” game). In doing so, White became the first player ever to score a touchdown at the Super Bowl during overtime, and the first player to score a touchdown on the big game’s final play.
After a season with the Illini in Urbana-Champaign, White is thrilled to continue the legacy of coach Patrick New, who stepped down as head coach of the Benet varsity football program after 16 years. When asked what excites him the most about coaching Benet, White said, “I’m most excited to build lifelong relationships with our players and the entire Benet community. I’m here to serve this community in any way that I can.” Coach White is very hopeful to lead this Redwing team to victory both in the regular season and the postseason. When asked his thoughts on joining the Benet community, he stated that, “I’ve heard nothing but great things about this community from friends and neighbors, so I’m excited to be a part of it. I’ve been here for a little over a month now and it’s been a family-like atmosphere between the students and the staff.” White is eager to utilize the knowledge he gained from his NFL career to build a strong and supportive team. White shared that the most memorable thing he learned from his NFL experience is that “you must prepare to win long before you ever play a game. You’re going up against the best players in the world, so in order to win you must first be prepared.”
As Coach White transitions from the college atmosphere to the Benet community, students and fans alike are sure that the upcoming season will be one of victory and accomplishments.
