Is Reggie White the best defensive player of all time?

Reginald Howard White was an American professional football player who played defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s.

After playing two professional seasons for the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League (USFL), he was selected in the first round of the 1984 Supplemental Draft, and then played for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most awarded defensive players in NFL history.

The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 13-time Pro Bowl, and 13-time All-Pro selection holds second place all-time among NFL career sack leaders with 198.

He was selected to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, and the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team.

During his professional career, he was also known for his Christian ministry as an ordained Evangelical minister, leading to his nickname, “the Minister of Defense”. White is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Is Reggie White the best defensive player of all time?

The “Minister of Defense” was simply a force to be reckoned with on the edge, as White was arguably the most dominant defensive player in NFL history.

White finished his career with 198 sacks, the most in NFL history when he retired in 2000. He finished with 12 double-digit sack seasons, including nine straight to start his career — which is an NFL record.

White owns the NFL record with the most sacks per game in NFL history (0.85) among players who have played at least 100 games, leading Taylor in that category (0.79). He averaged an astonishing 1.02 sacks per game in his career with the Philadelphia Eagles — 124 sacks in 121 games.

There’s certainly some debate on who’s the greatest defensive player ever, but White was clearly the most dominant. Winning the Defensive Player of the Year award at 37 (1998 season) just showcased White’s greatness through two decades.

White is the only player to have 90 sacks after his first six seasons and has the most sacks ever for a player after his first 10 seasons (145). He also made the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade teams.