Devin White believes he can return back to form with Raiders

Jul 29, 2025 at 04:13 PM

Levi Edwards

Digital Team Reporter

"He's back."

Pete Carroll didn't stutter.

He stated this with conviction when asked about linebacker Devin White, who wrecked practice for a second straight day.

"[H]e was on top of the world a few years ago, and then things kind of just didn't work out one reason or another," Carroll said. "He's back in action now. And he came up to me and said, 'I'm all in now.' And he was dead serious in how he said it. You can see it."

When told about his head coach's comments from a few minutes prior, White played it off pretty cool.

"Where has he been?" White said with a wide grin as the media laughed in unison.

But seriously, it's worth looking back at where White has been these past few years before arriving to Las Vegas.

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After winning a Super Bowl in 2020 and being named a Pro Bowler the following season, injuries began to derail White's play toward the end of his tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While he did his best to fight through his lingering ailments, hence only missing three games in 2023, he wasn't playing up to the standard he'd set when first arriving to the league.

In 2024, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, but never played a down before being released in October. He finished the rest of the season with the Houston Texans, appearing in seven games.

"I've been a guy who, my whole entire football career, I've never been hurt," White said. "And so when you get hurt and you want to play through those injuries to help your team, you also can hurt yourself by doing it, and I think that's what I did. I think it was selfish of myself, to myself, to put myself out there, and selfish to my team and to put myself out there not just being 100.

"Because at the end of the day, they need the Devin White that could just be lights out for four quarters out there on the field, and I didn't do that."

His mental health also took a hit with his physical.

During his last few seasons his Tampa, he had a difficult time coping with the death of his father. White said he and his father didn't have much of a relationship growing up due to his father being incarcerated. By the time they began to get close again, he unexpectedly lost him.

"Just didn't care [any] more, because I finally found that love," White said. "There's a lot of men in this room, growing up, you want to be like your dad, that's your role model, and I didn't have that. ... So, I battled that alone."

"For whatever reasons that it had to happen like that, it did," he added. "I'm thankful, and I'm vulnerable, and I reach out to people, I talk to a lot of people. I went to counseling and everything, and I'm just happy to be back here. I'm back smiling, and I know I've got a greater purpose in life."

The renewal of White's mind and body has been on display. He's received starting reps in the middle of the defense next to Elandon Roberts, as the two have provided a veteran presence over the young unit.

In Tuesday's practice, he certainly looked like the Devin White the NFL had been accustomed to seeing. The linebacker came away with an interception along with a few stops near the line of scrimmage. His ability to run downhill and create chaos has been quite impressive.

"Devin White really jumped. He jumped out both these two days," Carroll said. "Yeah, he's a ball player."

Obviously, the stakes are high for White. If he continues to take advantage of opportunities this training camp, he could become a vital part of this Raiders defense, and ultimately prove himself to be one of the best young linebackers – once again.

But does he think he's truly back just yet?

"I think Coach Pete just sees me having a lot of fun with the game again, no pressure on me, just going out there and doing what I've been doing my whole life, just having fun," White said.

"So, if me having fun on the field with my guys is me being back, then I'm glad to be back."

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Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Sam Webb (27) walks on to the field for practice at 2025 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.