FOXBOROUGH — Bill Belichick, Devin McCourty, Matthew Slater and others all spoke powerfully about James White the player and person on the day he announced his retirement after eight seasons with the Patriots. Wanted to let their words speak for themselves. Kind of says it all.
Bill Belichick
"Look, he was a tremendous player for us, tremendous person. There's not enough complimentary things to say about James or we'd be here all night and still have time left over. Ultimate team player, huge in big games, as professional as they come, and on and on and on."
Damien Harris, RB
(On James White’s retirement)
“James is obviously just a special guy. Special teammate, special leader. I feel very fortunate to have spent the time – even though it was a short amount of time – being able to learn from him and understand how to truly be a professional football player and how to play in this league. As skilled as he was, I think teaching me how to be a pro, and the ins and outs, and what makes people successful in this league – are the things that I’ll take from James the most. We have our memories, and James has a lifetime of memories in this organization and playing this game. So, I just feel very fortunate to have spent a little bit of time with him and had the opportunity to learn from him and grow as a player and develop in this league.”
(On special memories with James White)
“There’s too many to count, honestly. Every day with him, every time you saw him, he always had a smile on his face. He was always radiating positivity. He was always cool, calm and collected. Having a guy like that in your organization, especially in your running back room, it paid a lot of dividends and helped me get to the position I’m in. So, like I said, I’m very thankful to have spent some time sharing the same room with James White.”
(On how James White can be replaced)
“You can’t. James is a once in a lifetime player, once in a lifetime teammate. James isn’t somebody that you can replace. But, unfortunately, the show goes on. So, we’re just going to have to keep doing what we do and move forward. We wish James was still here, but we wish him the best in the next chapter of his life.”
(On what James taught Damien as a young player)
“Everything. Getting to learn from a guy like James White – you don’t always get that opportunity at this level, so just to have somebody like that that I could look at as a mentor, and somebody to guide me through my early process of being a player in the National Football League. He taught me a lot of things on the field, obviously. But he taught me how to be a pro, and how to be a man in this business and this industry. I learned a ton of things from James, so, definitely sad to see him go. But wishing him nothing but the best in his next chapter.”
Matthew Slater, WR
“Well, I think you guys know why I'm here. It's not because of the game tonight. Just want to start off by saying a few things about James [White]. I'll say this, I've had the good fortune of being around him for a long time. You guys know that. I think one of the great things about this place is the fact that we've had so many great individuals, in particular players, that have left tremendous legacies here. It's my personal belief that all of us leave legacies in the things that we do. Our fingerprints are left on relationships, they're left on our professional careers, they're left on the lives of our families, the people in the communities. We all leave legacies one way or another. Some of us leave good ones, some of us leave not so good and some of us leave great legacies and when I think about James White, I think he left a tremendous, tremendous legacy here, not just for what he did on the field. When I think about all the things that we hope to embody here, all the things that I hope to embody as a dad, as a husband, as a teammate, as a friend, James embodies all of that. So it's tough to say goodbye to someone like that. We're not saying goodbye, but as he transitions into the next phase of his life I certainly want to one of the first people to celebrate the legacy James White left here. He's a true Patriot, but he's a better human being and we're all better for having been around him.
(On how James White grew into the leader and player he was)
“Yeah I think two things. I think consistency over time. James was so consistent in everything that he did. We talk about it as a football player but just the person he was consistent time after time day after day he was the same person. And integrity. I think the guys in that locker room they know good people when they see it and James is a man of his word. he treated people the right way. He never cut corners in any of the things he did. He was a man of integrity. I think when you do that, and you model that behavior consistently over time you gain the respect of your peers. I can't think of a guy who's come through that locker room who's been more respected in the time that I've been here because of those characteristics.
(On James White never dropping passes)
“I mean we used to laugh about it in the offensive meetings because coaches in the past would be like ‘if we could just do it like James does it.’ It was always, ‘if we could just do it like James does it.’ 'Receivers, if you could catch the ball, run routes like James. Offensive lineman, ‘if you could show the consistency that James shows.’ He was an example for all of us. When he did make the occasional mistake, which didn't happen often, it was like 'oh wait what's going on?' I can think of very few guys who I've played with that were like that over the course of my career. Just a true model. A true example for us all to follow. I can't say enough about James.
(On when the team first realized the level of player James was)
“Funny enough, for me it was actually the blowout loss to Kansas City in 2014. It was one of the few games he was active for that year. I think he showed a great deal of poise and promise in a very bad situation. I think from there I kind of watched him and over the course of that year he had a great person to learn from in Shane Vereen. He just was like a sponge. Every detail that was taught he was able to retain and go out and apply on the field and that's rare to see from young players. So although he didn't really get on the field much early on I think he showed flashes of what he could be and then obviously we all saw the player that he became. But really no surprise when you think back to it because of the person he is and continues to be.”
(On his favorite James White story or memory)
“Aside from Super Bowl heroics? I think about the belly laughs that him and I shared over the years. James is - he loves to laugh, he loves to smile and something would happen in the meeting room or in the facility and I would come back to his locker and be like 'James man whatever whatever happened,' and we would just sit there and laugh. That was something I always appreciated. I knew if I needed to laugh I could go find James and we could laugh about something. Just having a presence like that in a place that is stressful at times and is tough and challenging at times was a great outlet for me personally. So on a personal level I really appreciate that.”
Brian Hoyer
"I want to start off first and just congratulate James White on an outstanding career. We're going miss him. For me, having known James all the way back to 2017, I can honestly say the most dependable teammate I've ever had. You never questioned James' work ethic, his leadership, even though he was a little quiet. We all loved him, and I want to wish him well in the next chapter and just say how much I respect him and how fortunate I feel to have played with him. He's truly a special player."