Philadelphia Eagles: 30 greatest players in franchise history
By John Buhler
Reggie White. 1. player. 54. . DE. (1985-92)
If we are looking at non-quarterbacks, defensive end Reggie White is without a doubt one of the 10 best players in the history of the NFL. “The Minister of Defense” is a legend in two NFL cities, the first being the team that took him in the 1984 Supplemental Draft fourth overall in the Eagles. While White originally opted to play for his home state’s Memphis Showboats in the USFL, he would make his NFL debut in 1985 in Philadelphia.
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White played a phenomenal eight seasons with the Eagles from 1985 to 1992. He was the central figure of many of those elite Buddy Ryan defenses in Philadelphia. In Eagles uniform, White made seven Pro Bowls and six first-team All-Pro squads. White led the league in sacks in 1987 and 1988, being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in both seasons.
Then, White would change the game as we know it in 1993. White was the first big-name player to switch teams in NFL free agency in the era of the salary cap. He joined the Green Bay Packers, where he would spend the next six seasons, making six more Pro Bowls, two more All-Pro teams and winning Super Bowl XXXII over the New England Patriots.
White retired after that season, but briefly returned as a member of the 2000 Carolina Panthers. When he did retire, White was the NFL’s all-time sacks leader at 198.0. Sadly, his post-football career would be short-lived. White passed away the day after Christmas 2004 at the age of 43 due to cardiac arrhythmia as a result of sleep apnea.
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He was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. White has his No. 92 jersey retired by his alma mater and the Eagles. You cannot tell the story of the NFL without mentioning Reggie White.