BETHLEHEM, Pa. (Aug. 8, 2005) -- The Philadelphia Eagles will retire former defensive end Reggie White's No. 92 during a ceremony in December.
A two-time NFL defensive player of the year and ordained minister who was known as the "Minister of Defense," White died of a heart attack on Dec. 26, 2004, exactly one week after his 43rd birthday.
"The last conversation I had with Reggie, I said to him, 'I really want to do that in Philadelphia. I want to do it on a Monday Night Football game, so the whole country can watch it,"' team owner Jeffrey Lurie announced in his annual State of the Eagles address at training camp. "And that's exactly what we're going to do."
The ceremony will take place on Dec. 5, when the Eagles host the Seattle Seahawks at Lincoln Financial Field.
"I thought that was appropriate because Mike Holmgren is the coach of Seattle, and was Reggie's coach in Green Bay," Lurie said.
White played a total of 15 years with Philadelphia (1985-92), Green Bay (1993-98) and Carolina (2000). He retired after the 2000 season as the NFL's all-time leader in sacks with 198; Bruce Smith has since passed the mark.
Lurie said that White will always be remembered for his significance to the team and the role that he played in Eagles history.
"It's an important moment for this franchise to recognize one of the greatest players in the history of this league, and as you know, a very impressive human being," Lurie said.
