MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – On this day, April 8, 1993, the Green Bay Packers signed legendary NFL defensive end Reggie White in free agency.
White earned the nickname “The Minister of Defense” as a senior at Tennessee. The moniker surely had to do with something more than the fact that he became an ordained minister at the age of 17. That became instantly apparent when he started his pro football career.
In 1993, after recording 124 sacks in 121 games over eight seasons with Philadelphia, White because the first big name free agent to switch teams and join the Packers.
He instantly helped turn the fortunes of the once-proud franchise.
The team steadily improved, and in 1996, returned to glory with White leading the NFL’s topped ranked defense to playoff and Super Bowl victories.
In Super Bowl XXXI, he made a record three sacks.
Green Bay Packers defensive end Reggie White (92) is congratulated by LeRoy Butler (36) after White sacked New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe in the second half of Super Bowl XXXI Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997 at the Superdome in New Orleans. Teammate Santana Dotson (71) looks on. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)(NBC15)
Reggie White played two more years in Green Bay.
Click here to download the WMTV15 News app or our WMTV15 First Alert weather app.
Copyright 2026 WMTV. All rights reserved.