James White is joining the coaching ranks.
On Thursday, Illinois football announced that it had hired White as the team’s new running backs coach. White will join a staff led by head coach Bret Bielema, who spent two seasons with the New England Patriots.
White will join a Fighting Illini team that went 10-3 last year, including 6-3 in Big Ten play. This marks White’s first major coaching job.
Bielema and White go way back. White played for Bielema back in college at Wisconsin from 2010-2013 and made a major impression there.
“Since first recruiting James out of St. Thomas Aquinas, he has continued to be an impressive person both on and off the football field,” Bielema in the team’s announcement. “James has always been a leader in the locker room and demanded respect from his teammates and coaches. With his experiences in the Big Ten and on the biggest stages in the NFL, he will be a great resource for our running backs.”
White last appeared in an NFL game in 2021, when he sustained a career-altering hip injury. He initially signed a deal to return to the Patriots in 2022, but opted to retire that summer.
Since then, White has bounced around in multiple media roles. He’s worked as a football analyst for multiple outlets, including ESPN, Sirius XM and the Big Ten Network. White is also a host for The Money Down Podcast.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to work with Coach Bielema and his staff,” White said. “I am excited to get to learn and grow with the coaches and players as we work to be the best we can be on a daily basis.”
A fourth-round pick in 2014, White spent all eight of his NFL season in New England. The versatile running back won three Super Bowls during that time, establishing himself as a consistent third-down back.
White finished his Patriots career with 381 receptions, including a team-high 87 in 2018. He’s best remembered for his legendary performance in Super Bowl LI, when he caught 14 passes and eventually scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
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