Sammy White (American football)

Last updated

Sammy White
Sammy White.png
White in 1976
No. 85
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1954-03-16) March 16, 1954 (age 69)
Winnsboro, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school: Richwood (Ouachita Parish, Louisiana)
College: Grambling State
NFL draft: 1976  / Round: 2 / Pick: 54
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:393
Receiving yards:6,400
Receiving touchdowns:50
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Sammy White (born March 3, 1954) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL).

Contents

After playing college football at Grambling State University, White was selected in the second round of the 1976 NFL Draft by Minnesota, and won the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year and UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year awards in 1976. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection in 1976 and 1977. In 128 career games, he totaled 393 receptions, 6,400 receiving yards, and 50 touchdowns. [1]

College career

White played at Grambling from 1972 to 1975, playing on the same team as future NFL quarterback and Super Bowl XXII MVP Doug Williams during his final two seasons. He was a first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection in 1973 and 1975. As a senior, White caught 37 passes for 802 yards and 17 touchdowns. [2]

Playing career

White started each game of his rookie season of 1976, serving as both receiver and kick returner on occasion. In his first game against the New Orleans Saints on September 12, he caught three passes for 71 yards, with one of the catches going for a touchdown thrown by Fran Tarkenton. On November 7 against the Detroit Lions, he caught seven passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. It would be the only time he had a 200-yard receiving game in his career and it currently stands as the team record for yards in a game. [3] He closed out the season with a three-touchdown game against the Miami Dolphins. In total, he caught 51 passes for 906 yards for ten touchdowns. The Vikings, a perennial contender, were the hosts for a postseason run with White aboard for the ride. In the Divisional Round against Washington, he caught four passes for 64 yards, with two of them being for touchdowns as the Vikings rolled to a 35–20 victory. He was the starting receiver in the NFC Championship Game against Los Angeles, but he did not record a catch in the victory that saw them advance to Super Bowl XI. [4] [5] [6] Playing the Oakland Raiders at the Rose Bowl, the Vikings did not lead at any point. During a 3rd down pass, White was trying to catch a pass from Tarkenton with DB Skip Thomas meeting him in the middle as safety Jack Tatum delivered a rough hit on White that knocked his helmet off. White left the game for a bit but returned to finish as the leading receiver for the Vikings, catching five passes for 77 yards with a touchdown to go with four kick returns for 79 yards in the 32–14 loss. [7] White was named a Pro Bowler and awarded the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, the second Viking to win the award.

The following season saw him catch 41 passes for 760 yards with nine touchdowns, which was good enough for a second (and last) Pro Bowl selection. In the playoffs, White didn't catch a pass in the Divisional Round versus Los Angeles that saw them play Dallas for the NFC Championship. White caught three passes for 46 yards with a kick return for 37 yards, but the Vikings lost 23–6. White, along with Randy Moss and Justin Jefferson, are the only wide receivers to make the Pro Bowl in their first two seasons with the Vikings. His third season (the first under the 16-game structure and also the last with Tarkenton as quarterback) saw him catch 53 passes for nine touchdowns on 741 yards. In the playoffs versus the Rams, he recorded no catches in the 34–10 loss. White played in 15 games for 1979 and caught 42 passes for 715 yards with four touchdowns as the Vikings (under newly installed starter Tommy Kramer) missed the playoffs for the first time in White's career. He caught 53 passes in 1980 for 887 yards with five touchdowns as the Vikings sneaked into the playoffs. Playing Philadelphia in the Divisional Round, White started the scoring off with a 30-yard reception for a touchdown. The Vikings had a halftime lead, but the Eagles eventually prevailed 31–16, with White catching only one further pass in the game. [8] In the 1981 season, White had career highs in receptions and receiving yards, catching 66 passes for 1,001 yards that resulted in 3 touchdowns. In the strike-shortened 1982 season, he caught 29 passes for 503 yards and five touchdowns in six games. The Vikings reached the playoffs again and played in the Wild Card versus Atlanta. White caught a 36-yard pass (one of only two on the day) from Kramer to give the Vikings a 10–7 lead in the second quarter as the Vikings eventually won 30–24. [9] White caught one pass in the ensuing Divisional Round loss against Washington, which was his last playoff appearance. In his next two seasons, he played less frequently, scoring five touchdowns combined. He closed out 1984 as just one of 44 players with 50 career receiving touchdowns. [10] In his final season in 1985, he did not start a single game and caught eight total passes on the year.

After retirement

After receiving an invitation to join the coaching staff at Grambling State from his old teammate Doug Williams, who became GSU's head coach in 1998, White worked as a receivers coach (1998-2003 and 2007–2009) and offensive coordinator (2004-2006). During that time Grambling won six Western Division titles and five SWAC championships. White was inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 2004. [11]

Related Research Articles

Super Bowl VIII was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Minnesota Vikings and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Miami Dolphins to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1973 season. The Dolphins conquered the Vikings by the score of 24–7 to win their second consecutive Super Bowl, the first team to do so since the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowls I and II, and the first AFL/AFC team to do so.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl IX</span> 1975 Edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl IX was an American football game played between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Minnesota Vikings to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1974 season. The game was played on January 12, 1975, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Steelers defeated the Vikings by the score of 16–6 to win their first Super Bowl championship.

Super Bowl XI was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Oakland Raiders and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Minnesota Vikings to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for its 1976 season. The Raiders defeated the Vikings by the score of 32–14 to win their first Super Bowl. The game was played on January 9, 1977, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. This remains the earliest scheduled calendar date for a Super Bowl; and the most recent Super Bowl to begin before 4:00 p.m. ET.

Herman Joseph Moore is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. He played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 1991 NFL Draft, and also played for the New York Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cris Carter</span> American football player (born 1965)

Graduel Christopher Darwin Carter is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles (1987–1989), the Minnesota Vikings (1990–2001) and the Miami Dolphins (2002). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers of all time.

Richard Scott Proehl is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Proehl played 17 seasons with the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, and Indianapolis Colts. He played in four Super Bowls and won two: Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams and Super Bowl XLI with the Colts. He is remembered as a member of "The Greatest Show on Turf".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonio Freeman</span> American football player (born 1972)

Antonio Michael Freeman is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL), most notably for the Green Bay Packers. He attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Virginia Tech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Clark (American football)</span> American football player (born 1962)

Gary C. Clark is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins (1985–92), Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals (1993–94), and Miami Dolphins (1995).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sidney Rice</span> American football player (born 1986)

Sidney Raynard Rice is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Rice played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1969 Minnesota Vikings season</span> NFL team season

The 1969 season was the Minnesota Vikings' ninth season in the National Football League (NFL) and their third under head coach Bud Grant. With a 12–2 record, the best in the league, the Vikings won the NFL Central division title, to qualify for the playoffs for the second year in a row. This was the first of three consecutive seasons as the best team in the NFL for the Vikings. They beat the Los Angeles Rams in the Western Conference Championship Game, and the Cleveland Browns in the final NFL Championship Game before the merger with the American Football League. With these wins, the Vikings became the last team to possess the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy, introduced 35 years earlier in 1934.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1973 Minnesota Vikings season</span> NFL team season

The 1973 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 13th in the National Football League (NFL). With a 12–2 record, the Vikings regained the NFC Central title after having gone 7–7 the previous year. They started the season 9–0 and looked a threat to the previous year's Miami Dolphins' record of a perfect season before losing to the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals in their next three games. Their narrow 10–9 win over the Los Angeles Rams constituted the last time until 1997 that the last two unbeaten NFL teams played each other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 Minnesota Vikings season</span> NFL team season

The 1976 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 16th in the National Football League (NFL). The Vikings finished with an 11–2–1 record to give them their eighth NFC Central division title. They beat the Washington Redskins 35–20 in the divisional round of the playoffs, followed by a 24–13 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship, before losing 32–14 to the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XI. As of 2023, this is the most recent Super Bowl appearance by the franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Woods (wide receiver, born 1992)</span> American football player (born 1992)

Robert Thomas Woods is an American football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, earning consensus All-American honors in 2011. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He previously played for the Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sammy Watkins</span> American football player (born 1993)

Samuel Benjamin Watkins is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for the Clemson Tigers, twice earning first-team All-American honors. Watkins was selected by the Buffalo Bills fourth overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Green Bay Packers. Watkins became a Super Bowl champion as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordarrelle Patterson</span> American football player (born 1991)

Cordarrelle Patterson, nicknamed "Flash", is an American football player for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). A versatile utility player, he plays running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and occasionally on defense. Patterson played college football for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons before transferring to the Tennessee Volunteers, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, the New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefon Diggs</span> American football player (born 1993)

Stefon Marsean Diggs is an American football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland, and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Thielen</span> American football player (born 1990)

Adam John Thielen is an American football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Minnesota State. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2013, playing for them for ten seasons. Thielen holds several NFL records, including eight straight games over 100+ yards receiving, and 74 receptions in the first half of a season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davante Adams</span> American football player (born 1992)

Davante Lavell Adams is an American football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Born in East Palo Alto, California, Adams attended Palo Alto High School where he played football and basketball. He played two seasons of college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs and was named a second-team All-American in 2013 before being selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquez Valdes-Scantling</span> American football player (born 1994)

Marquez Reshard Valdes-Scantling, also known by his initials MVS, is an American football wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at NC State and South Florida, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He joined the Chiefs in 2022, where he won Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII in his first two seasons with the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Jefferson</span> American football player (born 1999)

Justin Jamal Jefferson is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers, where he won the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship as a junior before being drafted by the Vikings in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

References

  1. ↑ "Sammy White". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Grambling greats: Sammy White". 20 October 2006.
  3. ↑ "Sammy White figured Vikings' Justin Jefferson 'for sure' would break his Vikings' single-game record". Twin Cities. 2022-09-13. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  4. ↑ "Sammy White 1976 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  5. ↑ "Divisional Round - Washington Redskins at Minnesota Vikings - December 18th, 1976". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  6. ↑ "Sammy White Playoffs Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  7. ↑ "Super Bowl XI - Oakland Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings - January 9th, 1977". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  8. ↑ "Divisional Round - Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles - January 3rd, 1981". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  9. ↑ "Wild Card - Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings - January 9th, 1983". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  10. ↑ "NFL Career Receiving Touchdowns Leaders Through 1984". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  11. ↑ Deriso, Nick (2009-12-02). "Grambling legend Sammy White will not return as receivers coach". The Deriso Report. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.