Tag: William White

Former Lions DB William White has passed away from ALS

White played six seasons in Detroit

Some sad news to report on a former Lions defensive stalwart. Longtime Lions safety William White has passed away from ALS, the team announced.

White was 56.

A fourth-round pick out of Ohio State in the 1988 NFL draft, White played six seasons in Detroit. He started 79 games and was a key piece of Detroit’s defensive heyday under head coach Wayne Fontes. White logged 450 total tackles and 13 INTs, including five in the 1990 season that also included a memorable pick-six.

White would go on to play five more NFL seasons after being traded by the Lions to the Chiefs.

The Lions welcomed White back to Ford Field as part of the Pride of the Lions celebration last season. Coach Dan Campbell said some nice words about White prior to Friday’s practice session.

As someone who has lost a brother-in-law to ALS, my heart goes out to White’s friends and Lions family.

Former Ohio State DB William White passes

Sad news for Buckeye Nation. Rest In Peace #GoBucks.

We have sad news to pass along to Buckeye Nation.

Former Ohio State defensive back William White has passed away (subscription may be required) at age 56. According to the Columbus Dispatch, White had a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gherig’s Disease after first being diagnosed with the condition in 2016.

White played under Earl Bruce from 1984-1987 before being drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 1988 NFL draft. He had an eleven-year career in the NFL that took him from Detroit (six years) to Kansas City (three years), and then to Atlanta (two years).

White had an optimistic outlook after his diagnosis and showed it by the way he carried himself and responded to what was sobering news.

“When Dr. (Kevin) Weber told me I had ALS, I was like, ‘Oh, OK,’” White told The Dispatch in 2018. “He says, ‘You don’t understand, there is a 100 percent chance you are going to die.’ I told him, ‘Well, everybody who is born, there is a 100 percent chance they’re going to die. And no one is going to live into their thousands.'”

The Lions released a statement in tribute to White on social media on Thursday.

White is survived by his wife, Nikol, and his three children — sons William Jr., Brendon, and daughter Brea.

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