Danny White: Mormon Athlete

Wilford Daniel “Danny” White is a former professional football player and color commentator. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

White was born on February 9, 1952, in Mesa, Arizona. He played quarterback and punter at Arizona State University and was All-American in 1973; his passing and running placed him second in the nation in total offense. He also set seven NCAA passing records. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, the State of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, and the Arizona State University Hall of Fame.

He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 1974 NFL Draft as a punter, but he signed with the World Football League’s Memphis Southmen to play quarterback. But the World Football League folded and in 1976 he signed with the Dallas Cowboys, where he was backup to Roger Staubach until his retirement. White then became the starting quarterback, as well as continuing as punter until 1984. He led the Cowboys to three NFC championship games. With White, the Cowboys went to the playoffs five times. He still holds eight Cowboys records. He retired in 1988. Tom Landry, the legendary head coach of the Cowboys said,”Danny White was probably as fine a winner as we have had in football.”[1]

From 1992 to 2004 he coached the Arizona Rattlers, and from 2006 to 2008 he coached the Utah Blaze. He led his teams to the playoffs in 10 of 11 seasons, including two championships ( in 1994 and 1997), finishing with a 162–95 record as a head coach. He was named to the Arena Football League Hall of Fame for his coaching success.

He has been the color commentator for Cowboys games on Compass Media Networks’ America’s Team Radio Network since 2011. White provided analyst commentary for the Fox Sports Pac-10 Game of the Week and traveled around the country as an inspirational public speaker.

White and his wife, JoLynn, are the parents of four children.