Project 99: No. 92 "Minister" Dominated Football Offenses

Reggie White, known as the Minister of Defense, is my choice for the Project 99’s pick for No. 92.

White played for the University of Tennessee, the Memphis Showboats of the old USFL, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Green Bay Packers, and the Carolina Panthers.

White played for the Eagles from 1985 to 1992 and in 17 seasons collected 198 sacks. He died Dec. 26, 2004 and two years later was enshrined in the National Football League Hall of Fame.

White stood tall at 6'5" and near 300 pounds, but was known for his quickness and agility. He gave opposing linemen fits with his hump, swim and rip moves.

In 1985, 1986, 1987, the Minister of Defense posted 13, 18, and 21 sacks respectively.

He was virtually unblockable in 1987. He collected  21 sacks, third-best in one season, even though a strike limited the season to 12 games.

From 1985 to 1992 he remained a mainstay of the Eagles' defense and in 1991 the team's defense ranked first in the NFL.

The thing I remember about 1991 was the Eagles front four, which included White, Jerome Brown, Clyde Simmons, and Mike Pitts.

One memorable game was Sept. 15, 1991. The Eagles defensive line of White, Simmons, Pitts, Brown, and Mike Golic sacked Troy Aikman 11 times in a 24-0 shutout. The Eagles defense also forced three interceptions.

The Eagles “Gang Green,” like many great groups, never reached the Super Bowl and soon would be history.

Brown died the following winter in a car accident and White was gone to free agency in 1993.

White collected 13 sacks in his first year with the Packers, where he played until 1998. In 1997, White helped the Packers to a 35-21 victory over New England in Super Bowl XXXI. White collected three sacks in the game.

He sacked opposing quarterbacks 16 times in his final year with the Packers 1998. He “retired” and did not play in 1999, before he came back and finished his career in Carolina in 2000 with 5.5 sacks.

White was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 13-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a 12-time All-Pro selection.

White was selected to the NFL 75th anniversary All-Time Team, the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, and the 1980 NFL All-Decade Team.

During his career, he became famous not only for his outstanding play, but also for his Christian ministry as an ordained Evangelical minister. He was commonly known as the Minister of Defense.

Upon his death, there were many who fondly remembered the man of two seasons: football and God.

"He was just a wonderful player, first of all, as a player," said Seattle coach Mike Holmgren, who coached White at Green Bay. "Then as a person, he was just the best. He was one of the leaders, along with Brett Favre, of our football team in Green Bay. I'm a better person for having been around Reggie White."