Origins & Early Life

Reginald Howard White (December 19, 1961 – December 26, 2004) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. White played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, earning unanimous All-American honors. After playing two seasons for the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League (USFL), he was selected in the first round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft, and then played for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Green Bay Packers and the Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most awarded defensive players in NFL history. The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Super Bowl XXXI champion, 13-time Pro Bowl, and 13-time All-Pro selection holds second place all-time among NFL career sack leaders with 198.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was selected to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, and the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team. During his professional career, White is credited with pioneering free agency in sports. Outside of football he was also known for his Christian ministry as an ordained evangelical minister, leading to his nickname, "the Minister of Defense...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Sorkin — Contemporary (Born in 1961) (1961): Master of fast-paced dialogue, known for 'walk and talk' storytelling.
• Andrew Forrest — Contemporary (Born in 1961) (1961): Pioneering Australian mining magnate and philanthropist, founder of Fortescue.
• Andy Lau — Contemporary (Born in 1961) (1961): Iconic Hong Kong actor, singer, and producer with a four-decade global career.
• A. A. K. Niazi — Contemporary (Died in 2004) (2004): Pakistani general who commanded Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Christopher Reeve — Contemporary (Died in 2004) (2004): Esteemed actor and tireless advocate for disability rights.
• Daniel J. Boorstin — Contemporary (Died in 2004) (2004): Influential American historian, Librarian of Congress, and proponent of consensus history.
• Al-Ghazali — Shared historical date (12-19 · Died) (1111): Influential Sunni polymath, theologian, and mystic of the 11th century.
• Alan Eustace — Shared historical date (12-19 · Born) (1956): Pioneering computer scientist known for his work at Google and record-breaking space dive.
• Alejo Carpentier — Shared historical date (12-26 · Born) (1904): Influential Cuban novelist, essayist, and musicologist of the Latin American Boom.
• Babur — Shared historical date (12-26 · Died) (1530): Founder of the Mughal Empire in South Asia, a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan.
• 1961 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1961
• December 19 (12-19) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 19
• 2004 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2004
• December 26 (12-26) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 26