Sammy White (American football)

Sammy White

White in 1976.
No. 85
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1954-03-16) March 16, 1954 (age 67) Winnsboro, Louisiana
Career information
College:	Grambling State
NFL Draft:	1976 / Round: 2 / Pick: 54
Career history
Minnesota Vikings (1976–1986)
Career highlights and awards
2× Pro Bowl (1976, 1977) 3× All-Pro (1976–1978) NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1976) 50 Greatest Vikings Minnesota Vikings 25th Anniversary Team
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 393 Receiving Yards: 6,400 Touchdowns: 50
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Sammy White (born March 3, 1954) is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL.

After attending Grambling State University, White played all 10 seasons (1976–1985) of his professional career as a wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings, winning 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 1972-1975, playing 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]

Notoriety[]

One of the most spectacular and ferocious hits in NFL history happened to White during Super Bowl XI, held on January 9, 1977 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. During a 3rd and long play, Fran Tarkenton dropped deep into the pocket and delivered a bullet to White who was on crossing route, with Oakland Raiders DB Skip Thomas meeting him in the middle. As White made a spectacular catch on the ball, he was hit by Raiders safety Jack Tatum, while Thomas closed the gap. The collision knocked White's helmet and chin strap off, sending the helmet tumbling about eight yards backwards from where they landed. Although shaken on the play, he held onto the ball gaining the Vikings a first down. He would return to the game, however the Vikings were outscored 32-14 and the Raiders would win their first of 3 Super Bowls. White finished the game as the Vikings' leading receiver with 5 receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown.

After retirement[]

After receiving an invitation to join the coaching staff at Grambling State from his old teammate Doug Williams, who become 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.^[3]

References[]

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