Super Bowl 51 hero James White retires from NFL due to injury

One of the premier pass-catching running backs in the NFL over the past decade, James White, has announced his retirement after eight years with the New England Patriots. White was a part of three Super Bowl-winning teams and was one of Tom Brady’s most reliable targets.

White’s most notable game was Super Bowl 51, where the Patriots came back from a 28-3 deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28. He had three touchdowns in that game, including the game-winner in overtime. It was one of the best Super Bowl performances we have seen in recent history.

White was a beloved player during his time with the Patriots, and although he wasn’t a traditional running back, he was crucial to the Pats’ success. He was mostly used as a short-yardage wide receiver and always found a way to get open for Brady. In his career, White finished with 1,278 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. Through the air, he finished with 3,278 yards and 25 touchdowns.

White’s reliability was something that all running backs should strive for. He opened up his career with the longest streak of touches without fumbling in NFL history and only ended up with two fumbles throughout his illustrious career. White may not have been the flashiest player, but he was very effective and was a fixture of the Patriots’ offense throughout the years.

White is only 30 years old but had to retire due to injury. He only played in three games last year and was slated to miss a chunk of this upcoming season with the same hip injury that cost him his 2021 season. It is expected his role will be filled by some combination of Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie Pierre Strong.

Losing White will hurt the Patriots, but it is not enough of a blow to move their odds in the NFL futures markets. The Patriots are rebuilding with second-year quarterback Mac Jones under center and their success will come down to him.

The Pats are -115 with Bovada to win over 8.5 games this year, and that’s a good bet. They have been awfully consistent and there has only been one year since 2000 where they haven’t won more than nine games. Of course, a lot of that was due to Brady, but Mac Jones led them to a 10-7 record last season.

If Jones improves, like many expect he will, New England will once again be a powerful team. And although White’s retirement is a tough blow, the Patriots should be just fine.

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