It’s not so much about what you say to someone but how you make them feel.
For a man of few words who could lead men to move mountains, which James White essentially did for the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI, it’s clear how revered he is by his coaches, teammates, fans and NFL players.
White announced his retirement Thursday morning after eight years in the league, three rings and one of the greatest Super Bowl performances of all time. Along the way, he carried himself as a quiet leader, family man and one of the most reliable players in Patriots history. By all accounts, that reliability extends to his presence off the field.
The praise came after White released his statement. Patriots president and CEO Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick made statements of their own, and a few current teammates had a chance to talk about White’s legacy at Gillette Stadium after Nova’s preseason game England against the New York Giants later that night (as seen in the video above).
But in the comments, mentions and tweet quotes of White’s announcement, the compliments and well wishes from current and former Patriots players, NFL opponents, media and fans seemed endless. Tom Brady congratulated him on the “perfect run” on his Instagram story and in White’s comments section Instagram it has been the outlet for many to express their congratulations.
Here are some of the reactions from Twitter: