“Thank you to Mr. Kraft, Coach Belichick, and the entire Patriots organization who gave me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream. To be able to play my entire career for a franchise, in front of the best fans in the NFL, is a tremendous blessing and There has been respect,” he added in the statement.
White, 30, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Patriots, who picked him from Wisconsin in the fourth round of the 2014 draft.
He played as a rookie in 2014, when the Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX, but emerged as a major contributor from 2015–2020 – a segment in which the Patriots played in three more Super Bowls, winning two.
He ended his career with 381 receptions for 3,278 yards and 25 touchdowns in the regular season, while adding 59 catches for 506 yards and three touchdowns in the postseason.
As a racer, he covered a total of 1,278 yards on 319 carries (4.0 average), with 11 touchdowns. After the season, he had 36 carries for 146 yards (4.1 average) and five touchdowns.
Patriots RB James White, Super Bowl LI hero, retiring after eight seasons in NFL
Injuries saw White play only three games, after deciding to return to New England in 2021. He opened training camp on PUP list in July.
Given the key role White played in New England’s Super Bowl run, he should one day find himself in the Patriots Hall of Fame.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft said, “James White has always been one of the most dependable and dependable players on the field.” “He is a soft-spoken leader who has led by example and was the best at what he has done, trailing and getting touchdowns in all NFL receptions over the past seven years. Our fans for his record-setting performances. Will always be grateful for Super Bowl LI when he helped the Patriots break a 28-3 deficit in overtime by scoring 20 points including a game-winning touchdown.
His absence will be felt for the rest of the season, especially due to the lack of a more versatile pass-catcher on the team. And now one of his teammates will have big shoes for retirement.
White’s time with the Patriots will forever be remembered as legendary. There is no doubt that he will end up in the Patriots Hall of Fame in the near future. His influence far exceeded what he achieved on the field and he perfectly embodied what it was like to be a patriot.
In a statement, Patriots owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick praised what White brought to the team.
Kraft said, “James is a better man than he has been to us.” “He is a man of great character and integrity and has earned the respect of everyone through his work ethic, professionalism and positive daily demeanor. James became part of the Patriots family while in New England and his presence in our locker rooms Will be missed, we are delighted for James and his family as they embark on a new adventure.”
“James consummate defines the word professional,” Belichick said. “His dependability, consistency, selflessness and performance under pressure are elite. Combining great intelligence, agility, and elusiveness, James was the perfect fit for the offense we had. Despite being soft spoken, he brought exceptional leadership and competitive tenacity to the team. He was a multi-year team captain and one of the most respected, best team players I have ever coached.
Thornton puts up the first TD of 2022
After a strong start to training camp, Tyquan Thornton took it to the field of play, scoring the team’s first touchdown of the season with a good move along the backline of the end zone, mocking his coverage and scoring six points. Took easy grip. Despite being known for his long pace, Thornton is showing evolution in his route running nuances that can help him open up in small spaces.
The rookie took only two catches but they were enough to continue his progress. Their continued growth will be worth watching over the coming weeks and months.
also read: Frank Gore charged in alleged domestic violence incident
