New England Patriots Legend James White Announces Retirement

Editor's note: This article was written by a Townsquare Media Northern New England contributor and may contain the individual's views, opinions or personal experiences.

During the New England Patriots two-decade plus run of being at or near the top of the NFL, there have been several different players who have turned themselves into legends to the hoards of fans that follow the team. Running back James White is one of those players. White transformed himself from a useful backup into the greatest receiving back in Patriots franchise history and solidified his spot in New England lore by being a catalyst in the Patriots historic Super Bowl 51 comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons. While White had hoped to add to his legacy, injuries have forced him into an early retirement.

James White shared a heartfelt message on social media, thanking everyone who helped him live out his dream as an NFL player. White thanked his wife and children for their innumerable sacrifices, he thanked Bob Kraft and Bill Belichick for believing in him and helping him grow as a person and player and White had a special thank you for all of his teammates during his 8-year career that made it special. White also thanked the fans of New England with this very touching statement:

"To say that Foxboro will always hold a special place in my heart is an understatement. It's been the most significant chapter of my adulthood. My kids were born here, it's the place we know the best as adults and where I have grown and created my family"

Despite being only 30-years-old, White suffered a debilitating hip injury early in the 2021 season. He had rehabbed and was hopeful of making a potential return to the league, but the injury was too substantial and ended up costing him his career. White will almost assuredly end up in the New England Patriots Hall of Fame and his performance in Super Bowl 51 will remain the stuff of legend.