GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Ticker) - The Green Bay Packers will retire the No. 92 of the late Reggie White during halftime ceremonies of the September 18 home opener against the Cleveland Browns, team president Bob Harlan announced on Tuesday.
White died on December 26.
The Packers planned to retire White's number before his death. Harlan met with White last September to inform him that the team was going to retire his number during the 2005 season.
"He was very honored," Harlan said. "I told him to look up there (the facade of Lambeau Field) and picture his name with the other numbers. He knew how special this was."
Only four players in the franchise's 86-year history have had their number retired - fullback Tony Canadeo (3), receiver Don Hutson (14), quarterback Bart Starr (15) and linebacker Ray Nitschke (66).
A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, White is a lock to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2006 in his first year of eligibility. He was named to the NFL's 75th anniversary team and elected to the Pro Bowl a record 13 straight times from 1986-98.
Nicknamed "The Minister of Defense" for his dominance on the field and because he was an ordained minister, White retired after the 1998 season but returned in 2000 and played one more year with the Carolina Panthers.
White had 198 career sacks with the Philadelphia Eagles (1985-92), Packers (1993-98) and Panthers (2000). He retired as the all-time leader, but his total was surpassed by defensive end Bruce Smith in 2003.
White was the defensive star and spiritual leader of the Packers' back-to-back Super Bowl teams in 1996 and 1997. He had three sacks in the Packers' 35-21 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.
Along with his dominance on the field, White made quite an impact in the community, working with inner-city kids and helping race relations.
