Wilford Daniel "Danny" White (born February 9, 1952) is an American football coach in the Arena Football League and also occasionally appears as an analyst on broadcasts of college football games. He was named the head coach of the Arena Football League expansion Utah Blaze, which began play in 2006. Prior to that, he served as the head coach of the Arizona Rattlers from 1992 to 2004, winning the ArenaBowl championship in 1994 and 1997. White's contract was not renewed by the new Rattlers ownership after the 2004 season following three consecutive ArenaBowl losses. In his first season coaching the Blaze, he led the team to a 7-9 record and a playoff berth where Utah fell to Arizona 57-34.

A graduate of Mesa Westwood High School in Mesa, Arizona, White had a stellar career as a quarterback and punter at Arizona State University and subsequently appeared briefly in the World Football League before catching on with the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys. Through 1979 he appeared primarily as a punter and backup to star quarterback Roger Staubach, but after Staubach's retirement following the end of that season he became the starting quarterback himself and for a few years did double-duty as its punter until around 1984.

White made the Pro Bowl in 1982, and led the Cowboys to three consecutive NFC championship games (1980-1982), but was criticized after the Cowboys lost each of the three despite having been favored in all three games. In 1984, he became involved in a minor automobile accident with a 17-year-old motorist, who referred to White as "you choking dog" once he realized who the driver of the other vehicle was.[1]

In 1986, the Cowboys started 6-2, had the #1 offense in the NFL, and found themselves tied for the lead in the NFC Eastern Division all under White's field generalship. During an away game against Bill Parcells’ New York Giants, however, a vicious blindside sack by Giants linebacker Carl Banks broke White's throwing wrist, knocking him out of the game and ending his season. Dallas lost the game, 17-14, and without White, the team faded badly, finishing the year 7-9. It was the Cowboys' first losing season since 1965.

After an unremarkable 1987 season, White would suffer a knee injury and miss the final nine games of the 1988 season. An option on his contract was not picked up in April 1989 and he retired, paving the way for Troy Aikman to take the reigns of the struggling franchise.

White had 1,761 completions on 2,950 attempts for 21,959 yards, 155 touchdowns, and 132 interceptions in his career. He also gained 482 yards and scored 8 touchdowns on the ground. Unusually for a quarterback, he has two pass receptions for touchdowns, from a halfback option pass. On special teams, he punted 610 times for 24,509 yards, an average of 40.4 yards per punt, with 144 punts in the 20 and 77 touchbacks. His record as the Cowboys' starting quarterback was 62-32 (66% winning perecnatge) during the regular season, and 5-5 in the playoffs.

His career as a coach began shortly after his playing days ended. This is appropriate considering that, while an active player, he was widely regarded--like Staubach before him--as knowledgeable of the game and as something of a coach on the field.

 

Sad how a great guy and player like White is remembered, Danny did not have the weapons the other guys had or at least the weapons were past their prime. When you follow a guy like Roger Staubach if you arent the best then your crap, thats what many Cowboy fans thought of Danny back in the early 80s as he tried to replace the legend. But now as I look back on those years I am glad to have watched him and hope someday he gets some recognition as a great part of our history. I remember the fake punts when he would be in there and the quick kicks to pin the oppenants deep in their own territory! I doubt if he ever rates a spot in the ROH but I would like to see him reconized somehow as a great Cowboy!

This is a classic look at my man Danny White

Even while still playing he had to endure listening to fans call him names and say he choked. He had the talent to lead this team to e few Superbowls, if only the rest of the team had been better!

One of the most under appreciated Cowboys. Played with a lot of heart. Too bad he got knocked out in that game with the Giants. Sacrificed his body too much thanks to a suspect O-line. He got hit so much I think he ended up with lazy eyes. No ring, not much respect.

Tough gig following Roger.  I think he did an admirable job, but just fell short of the impossible task of living up to the extreme expecations created by his predecessor.  He certainly was under appreciated.  That said however, I think he falls short of ROH status in my opinion. 

I don't think any player in team history has been under more pressure to perform than White.  Few players are more underappreciated.  Meredith had to survive criticism, but he wound up in the Ring of Honor, and most of the negativity surrounding him has long since vanished.  White is still criticized for not taking the team to the Super Bowl, even though White's accomplishments compare quite favorably to Meredith's (not to take anything away from what Meredith did, mind you).

Consider White's record as a starter-- in five full seasons as a starter, White led the team to the playoffs five times and to the NFC Championship Game three times.  Prior to his injury in 1986, his record as a full-time starter beginning in 1980 was 62-24 (the team went 5-6 in games that he did not start during that time period).  The team's record for the remainder of the decade after he suffered his injury was 11-36, with no winning seasons.  There were, of course, other factors involved, but the sharp contrast of the team before his injury compared to what happened afterward shows his value.

Kickholder12:

I don't think any player in team history has been under more pressure to perform than White.  Few players are more underappreciated.  Meredith had to survive criticism, but he wound up in the Ring of Honor, and most of the negativity surrounding him has long since vanished.  White is still criticized for not taking the team to the Super Bowl, even though White's accomplishments compare quite favorably to Meredith's (not to take anything away from what Meredith did, mind you).

Consider White's record as a starter-- in five full seasons as a starter, White led the team to the playoffs five times and to the NFC Championship Game three times.  Prior to his injury in 1986, his record as a full-time starter beginning in 1980 was 62-24 (the team went 5-6 in games that he did not start during that time period).  The team's record for the remainder of the decade after he suffered his injury was 11-36, with no winning seasons.  There were, of course, other factors involved, but the sharp contrast of the team before his injury compared to what happened afterward shows his value.

Great point and analysis.  Based on that do you feel White should be inducted into the ROH?

I think Daniel White I should be considered for the HOF, he was always successful when healthy and did more with less than the two more famous quarterbacks on our team did.  Hey, if Terrell Davis can get into that conversation, Danny White can too.

Ween22:

Kickholder12:

I don't think any player in team history has been under more pressure to perform than White.  Few players are more underappreciated.  Meredith had to survive criticism, but he wound up in the Ring of Honor, and most of the negativity surrounding him has long since vanished.  White is still criticized for not taking the team to the Super Bowl, even though White's accomplishments compare quite favorably to Meredith's (not to take anything away from what Meredith did, mind you).

Consider White's record as a starter-- in five full seasons as a starter, White led the team to the playoffs five times and to the NFC Championship Game three times.  Prior to his injury in 1986, his record as a full-time starter beginning in 1980 was 62-24 (the team went 5-6 in games that he did not start during that time period).  The team's record for the remainder of the decade after he suffered his injury was 11-36, with no winning seasons.  There were, of course, other factors involved, but the sharp contrast of the team before his injury compared to what happened afterward shows his value.

Great point and analysis.  Based on that do you feel White should be inducted into the ROH?

That's a tough one.  I am hesitant, due mostly to the fact that he was not a starter as long as the three who are in, but I would say yes.  Without White, I have little doubt that the team would have struggled throughout the entire decade of the 1980s and not only in the latter half.  Instead, the team continued on the same track.  I have never blamed him for those three championship game losses, and even looking at them in retrospect, I don't see why he should take more blame than others.

The comparisons with Steve Young are too easy.  Take away the 1994 season, and Steve Young is a major disappointment as a starter for the 49ers because he could not accomplish what Montana did.  Give White one Super Bowl title, and I have little doubt he would be in the Ring of Honor.

Kickholder12:

Ween22:

Kickholder12:

I don't think any player in team history has been under more pressure to perform than White.  Few players are more underappreciated.  Meredith had to survive criticism, but he wound up in the Ring of Honor, and most of the negativity surrounding him has long since vanished.  White is still criticized for not taking the team to the Super Bowl, even though White's accomplishments compare quite favorably to Meredith's (not to take anything away from what Meredith did, mind you).

Consider White's record as a starter-- in five full seasons as a starter, White led the team to the playoffs five times and to the NFC Championship Game three times.  Prior to his injury in 1986, his record as a full-time starter beginning in 1980 was 62-24 (the team went 5-6 in games that he did not start during that time period).  The team's record for the remainder of the decade after he suffered his injury was 11-36, with no winning seasons.  There were, of course, other factors involved, but the sharp contrast of the team before his injury compared to what happened afterward shows his value.

Great point and analysis.  Based on that do you feel White should be inducted into the ROH?

That's a tough one.  I am hesitant, due mostly to the fact that he was not a starter as long as the three who are in, but I would say yes.  Without White, I have little doubt that the team would have struggled throughout the entire decade of the 1980s and not only in the latter half.  Instead, the team continued on the same track.  I have never blamed him for those three championship game losses, and even looking at them in retrospect, I don't see why he should take more blame than others.

The comparisons with Steve Young are too easy.  Take away the 1994 season, and Steve Young is a major disappointment as a starter for the 49ers because he could not accomplish what Montana did.  Give White one Super Bowl title, and I have little doubt he would be in the Ring of Honor.

Just think one play could have made such a difference in Dannys career, "The Catch" without that play maybe Danny and the Boys go on and win that SB and Danny White would be remembered as a hero instead of a goat! -

God I loved Danny. I wanted him to succed so badly.

Longhorn_9:

Kickholder12:

Ween22:

Kickholder12:

I don't think any player in team history has been under more pressure to perform than White.  Few players are more underappreciated.  Meredith had to survive criticism, but he wound up in the Ring of Honor, and most of the negativity surrounding him has long since vanished.  White is still criticized for not taking the team to the Super Bowl, even though White's accomplishments compare quite favorably to Meredith's (not to take anything away from what Meredith did, mind you).

Consider White's record as a starter-- in five full seasons as a starter, White led the team to the playoffs five times and to the NFC Championship Game three times.  Prior to his injury in 1986, his record as a full-time starter beginning in 1980 was 62-24 (the team went 5-6 in games that he did not start during that time period).  The team's record for the remainder of the decade after he suffered his injury was 11-36, with no winning seasons.  There were, of course, other factors involved, but the sharp contrast of the team before his injury compared to what happened afterward shows his value.

Great point and analysis.  Based on that do you feel White should be inducted into the ROH?

That's a tough one.  I am hesitant, due mostly to the fact that he was not a starter as long as the three who are in, but I would say yes.  Without White, I have little doubt that the team would have struggled throughout the entire decade of the 1980s and not only in the latter half.  Instead, the team continued on the same track.  I have never blamed him for those three championship game losses, and even looking at them in retrospect, I don't see why he should take more blame than others.

The comparisons with Steve Young are too easy.  Take away the 1994 season, and Steve Young is a major disappointment as a starter for the 49ers because he could not accomplish what Montana did.  Give White one Super Bowl title, and I have little doubt he would be in the Ring of Honor.

Just think one play could have made such a difference in Dannys career, "The Catch" without that play maybe Danny and the Boys go on and win that SB and Danny White would be remembered as a hero instead of a goat! -

BigDog...you just cut my heart out with a butter knife by displaying that picture...

Longhorn_9:

[ Just think one play could have made such a difference in Dannys career, "The Catch" without that play maybe Danny and the Boys go on and win that SB and Danny White would be remembered as a hero instead of a goat! -

The play that could have made White a hero was the one before he fumbled. He hit Drew Pearson over the middle and Lott collided with another db and they fell. I really thought Drew was fixing to go all the way. Then Eric Wright got enough of his fingers in the back of Drew's shoulder pads to pull him back.

I think that one play did a lot of damage to Danny, Drew and the Cowboys - even as much as "The Catch." Had Drew gone the distance, there's no doubt in my mind that we would have beat the Bengals that year. That would have gotten Danny his ring and a kinder place in history. It would've been the second "Classic" big play Pearson would have made in the play-offs. that and his second ring would have been too much for the HOF guys to ignore. It would have also put us alone at the top with six Lombardis.

But like Dandy Don used to say: "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas!"