Pete Carroll seeing LB Devin White return to Pro Bowl form: 'He's back'

USA Today

29-07-2025

It may surprise some people to learn that Devin White is just 27 years old. Probably because he's has quite the whirlwind of a career.
White was the top linebacker taken in the 2019 NFL Draft at fifth overall. As it happens, he was selected right after the Raiders used the fourth overall pick on DE Clelin Ferrell.
In just his second season, he was the second team All Pro middle linebacker for the Buccaneers Super Bowl winning squad. The following season, he was a Pro Bowler. Two years later, injuries piled up and his play took a nosedive because of it. After his five-year rookie contract was up, the Bucs didn't bring him back.
Last season, White was rendered to relative obscurity. He appeared in just seven games for the Texans with one start. And he joined the Raiders this offseason with little fanfare. The thinking being that new GM John Spytek still had visions of the Pro Bowl starting middle linebacker for the Super Bowl winning squad. Not the player White had devolved into the past couple years.
Since the pads came on Monday, White has looked a lot like his former greatness. This included a sack and an interception.
'I think that's where my game is. Just being able to run to the ball, see the ball, and have good ball skills," White said of his interception. "Just being an athletic linebacker. When I came out, that's what I wanted to be known for. Being a run, hit, tackle, make plays, get sacks, get turnovers. I've been showing it all camp, so I just want to stay consistent with that. First day of pads yesterday I had a great day. They asked me could I do it two days in a row, I said I'm gonna do it every day I get on the field. That's just the standard I set for myself. It's the standard I set for the defense, and that's what I want the team to see. When I'm even competing against the other side, I want them to say '45 is bringing it every time he steps on the field'. So, whether I'm making plays or it's somebody else making plays, I'm gonna bring the juice and I'm gonna have my teammates' back and hopefully they have mine and I know they will because they've been showing it all camp.'
His head coach is convinced.
"He's back," Pete Carroll said of Devin White. "He was on top of the world a few years ago and then things just kind of didn't work out for one reason or another. He's back in action now. He came up to me and said 'I'm all in now' and he was dead serious in how he said it, you know. And you can see it."
White said among other things that he was "selfish" for trying to play through injuries the way he did. That he should have recognized that he was hurt too much to be an asset to the team. Both the physical pain as well as the regret that comes along with letting his team down weighed on him. He's past it now and it shows.
'I feel comfortable. I feel healthy. I feel thankful. And I feel hungry," White said. "[I'm] back but still got to prove it to the world each and every Sunday or Monday or Thursday night. And I got to prove it to my team every day I step in the building. It's just a mindset. But I think coach Pete just sees me having a lot of fun with the game again. No pressure on me. Just go out there and do what I've been doing my whole life. Just having fun. If me having fun on the field with my guys is me being back, then I'm glad to be back.'