Fort Worth Inc.
For years as a quarterback, Danny White depended on the great wall of offensive linemen to protect him from predator NFL defenders, who delivered pain at a rate Amazon drivers do packages.
Today, at age 72, White’s protection has evolved.
Mothballs.
“I kind of put this tuxedo in mothballs,” he said while in black tie on Monday in the late afternoon during a press availability at the Davey O’Brien Foundation’s annual shindig at the Fort Worth Club. “I didn't think I would be wearing it again. So, it came as a little bit of a surprise, but a tremendous honor.
“At this stage of my career it is not only a great honor but somewhat of a surprise, and I’m happy to be here. It’s great to be a part of this.”
Jayden Daniels of LSU, college football’s Heisman Trophy Award winner, sat next to White. Daniels was there to receive the Davey O’Brien Award, presented to the most exceptional college quarterback of the the recent season completed.
Daniels became the third LSU player to win the Heisman, joining, most recently, Joe Burrow in 2019, and Billy Cannon in 1959.
There was no hanging-chad-of-doubt about Daniels’ qualifications. He met the O’Brien standard of excellence by throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns — against only four interceptions — for the Tigers. He also ran for more than 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Daniels was a worthy successor to our man Max Duggan, the TCU star who won the award a year ago.
White was presented the Davey O’Brien Legends Award.
Past winners include Steve Bartkowski, Terry Bradshaw, Len Dawson, Doug Flutie, Dan Fouts, Bob Griese, Paul Hornung, Ron Jaworski, Jim Kelly, Eddie LeBaron, Archie Manning, Jim McMahon, Joe Montana, Warren Moon, Craig Morton, Jim Plunkett, Phil Simms, Steve Spurrier, Bart Starr, Roger Staubach, Joe Theismann, and Doug Williams.
The first Dallas Cowboys’ No. 11 — the current, Micah Parsons, is pretty good, too — might be our favorite among the distinguished group of passers.
White is also probably the most underappreciated of the group. White’s career as the Cowboys starting quarterback, a position that comes with more power than the king of England, was sandwiched between two legends.
His legacy has been overshadowed by people and events.
White’s career as the starter was sandwiched between Staubach and Troy Aikman, both Pro Football Hall of Famers who won multiple Super Bowls. Moreover, White’s exit from the stage was also difficult, immersed in the team’s decline and injuries, as well as the new ownership of Jerry Jones and Tom Landry’s firing.
Yet, he took the Cowboys to three NFC Championship Games in the early 1980s. Only one of the most iconic plays in NFL history likely prevented White and the Cowboys from winning a third Super Bowl. As it turned out, Joe Montana’s miracle pass to Dwight Clark represented a changing of the guard in the NFC.
And taught 11-year-olds everywhere that life ain’t fair.
Today, White, who resides in Arizona, is an analyst for Compass Media Network, which covers Cowboys games. He is also about to become a published author. White and his daughter, Heather, who was with him in Fort Worth on Monday, will soon release Danny White: Spotlight and Shadows.
White, who played 13 seasons with the Cowboys (1976-88), posted a 62-30 regular-season record after taking over from the retiring Staubach as the starting quarterback in 1980. An All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 1982, he led Dallas to the playoffs five times, including three straight appearances in the NFC Championship Game from 1980-82.
He finished his career as the franchise’s all-time leader in completions and touchdown passes.
White was a member of the Cowboys’ Super Bowl XII championship team in 1977 as Staubach’s backup and the punter. On Monday, he had on his Super Bowl ring, which was won in the Superdome, today the Caesar's Superdome, in New Orleans over the Denver Broncos.
“I had a unique career in that the first few years that I started, we didn't have many weaknesses,” he said. “The last couple of years that I was a starter, I broke every bone in my body in the last three years. I think I had every injury known to man.”
There came a time that he probably would have even tried mothballs to protect him on the field.
His memories of the game include pain that is still with him. A broken wrist, caused by a hit by Carl Banks of the New York Giants, was the beginning of the end. White said his shoulders and back are his most pressing issues today.
He also had a number of concussions. The most serious that I recall was in the 1983 NFC Championship Game at Washington. Defensive lineman Dexter Manley tore through the Dallas front just before halftime and knocked White unconscious.
This was in the day that you could do that sort of thing. That is, tackle the quarterback.
“I don’t remember anything that happened today,” he said after the game. “The play? Hell no.”
Cowboys president and general manager Tex Schramm then told the assembled media that had gathered around White’s locker to scram.
White and Daniels share in common Arizona State. Both attended school there. White, a first team All-American in 1973, went an astounding 32-4 while the starter and left as NCAA’s all-time leading passer, one of seven national passing records he set at ASU.
Daniels transferred to LSU for his “super senior” season. Daniels is projected to go no later than the first five picks of the NFL Draft in April.
“We had Jayden out at Arizona State, and I got to know him a little bit out there, so he doesn't need any advice from me,” White said. “I've seen him up close and personal, and he's going to have a great, great career.”
However, he gave some anyway — because he obliged a reporter’s question. Daniels appeared to be listening intently.
“If I had something to do over again I would do whatever I could do to slow it down, especially on the field … the football stuff. This part [meeting with the media], this is the job. The field stuff is fun.
“When you have a chance to get on the field and get away from all of this, those are the moments when you need to try to slow it all down. Just take advantage of it. You got 15 or 20 years, or five years, or one year. Who knows? That's the thing about playing quarterback in the NFL. You never know when one day you're going to go out on the field and you're not going to come back healthy.”