{"id":888896,"date":"2026-05-12T03:43:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T03:43:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/888896\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T03:43:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T03:43:45","slug":"why-did-squirrel-white-retire-bears-udfa-ends-nfl-career-after-16-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/888896\/","title":{"rendered":"Why did Squirrel White retire? Bears UDFA ends NFL career after 16 days"},"content":{"rendered":"

Squirrel White<\/a>‘s NFL career ended before it really began.<\/p>\n

The Chicago Bears<\/a> placed White on its reserve\/retired list on May 11. The transaction, which abruptly ends White’s pro career, comes 16 days after the Bears<\/a> signed the Florida State<\/a> wide receiver as an undrafted free agent.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The reason for White’s retirement is not clear as of the time of writing: the evening of May 11.<\/p>\n

ESPN Bears writer Courtney Cronin reported<\/a> that she saw White leaving the Bears’ practice field during rookie minicamp on May 9. Cronin wrote on the social media website X that the rookie receiver left with a trainer while the team was still doing stretches and did not return to practice later.<\/p>\n

NFL NEWS, TAKES, FANTASY ADVICE: USA TODAY Sports has you covered with our NFL vodcast<\/a><\/p>\n

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White began his collegiate football career at Tennessee in 2022. He played in 38 games during his time on Rocky Top, catching 131 passes for 1,665 yards and six touchdowns.<\/p>\n

White transferred to Florida State<\/a> ahead of the 2025 season and played in 10 games for the Seminoles. In his lone season in Tallahassee, White caught five passes for 52 yards.<\/p>\n

1 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

New York Jets \u2013 Arch Manning, QB, Texas<\/p>\n

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Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

New York Jets \u2013 Arch Manning, QB, Texas<\/p>\n

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Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Miami Dolphins \u2013 Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State<\/p>\n

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3 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Arizona Cardinals \u2013 Dante Moore, QB, Oregon<\/p>\n

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4 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Atlanta Falcons \u2013 Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame<\/p>\n

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5 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Tennessee Titans \u2013 Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas<\/p>\n

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6 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders \u2013 Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU<\/p>\n

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7 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Cleveland Browns \u2013 CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame<\/p>\n

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8 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

New York Giants \u2013 Cam Coleman, WR, Texas<\/p>\n

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9 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

New Orleans Saints \u2013 Colin Simmons, DE\/OLB, Texas<\/p>\n

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10 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Washington Commanders \u2013 Dylan Stewart, DE\/OLB, South Carolina<\/p>\n

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11 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Jets (from IND) \u2013 KJ Bolden, S, Georgia<\/p>\n

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12 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay Buccaneers \u2013 Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon<\/p>\n

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13 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh Steelers \u2013 Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State<\/p>\n

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14 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Jets (from DAL) \u2013 Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia<\/p>\n

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15 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Carolina Panthers \u2013 Quincy Rhodes, DE\/OLB, Arkansas<\/p>\n

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16 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Cincinnati Bengals \u2013 Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama<\/p>\n

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17 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Minnesota Vikings \u2013 Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri<\/p>\n

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18 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Detroit Lions \u2013 Will Heldt, DE, Clemson<\/p>\n

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19 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Baltimore Ravens \u2013 Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State<\/p>\n

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20 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Houston Texans \u2013 Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa<\/p>\n

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21 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Kansas City Chiefs \u2013 Trey’Dez Green, TE, LSU<\/p>\n

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22 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Eagles \u2013 Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State<\/p>\n

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23 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Cowboys (from GB) \u2013 Nick Marsh, WR, Indiana<\/p>\n

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24 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

San Francisco 49ers \u2013 Koi Perich, S, Oregon<\/p>\n

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25 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Jacksonville Jaguars \u2013 David Stone, DT, Oklahoma<\/p>\n

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26 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills \u2013 Damon Wilson II, DE, Miami (Fla.)<\/p>\n

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27 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Chargers \u2013 A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon<\/p>\n

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28 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Chicago Bears \u2013 Ahmad Moten, DT, Miami (Fla.)<\/p>\n

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29 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

New England Patriots \u2013 Whit Weeks, LB, LSU<\/p>\n

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30 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Rams \u2013 Princewill Umanmielen, DE\/OLB, LSU<\/p>\n

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31 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Denver Broncos \u2013 A.J. Holmes Jr., DT, Texas Tech<\/p>\n

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32 \/ 32<\/p>\n

Way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks aplenty in early look<\/p>\n

Seattle Seahawks \u2013 Mateen Ibirogba, DT, Texas Tech<\/p>\n

Why did Squirrel White retire?<\/p>\n

As of the time of writing, it is unclear why White retired so abruptly from the NFL.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Squirrel White injury history<\/p>\n

White did not have an extensive injury history in college.<\/p>\n

In 2025, he left the Seminoles’ Week 2 game against East Texas A&M with a wrist injury and missed one game. He also missed an October game against Pittsburgh with an undisclosed injury.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bears UDFA Squirrel White retired abruptly. What we know<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Squirrel White‘s NFL career ended before it really began. The Chicago Bears placed White on its reserve\/retired list…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":888897,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[3],"tags":[391,14955,7,6,520,10874,526,2637],"class_list":["post-888896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-chicago-bears","tag-courtney-cronin","tag-football","tag-nfl","tag-pittsburgh","tag-squirrel-white","tag-tennessee","tag-white"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116559548254087678","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=888896"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888896\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/888897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=888896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=888896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=888896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}