Former Bucs DE Stephen White Dies At 48

August 30th, 2022

Steve White

UPDATED 11:12 p.m. – Former Bucs defensive lineman Tyoka Jackson announced on Twitter tonight that his former teammate, Bucs defensive end Stephen White, passed away. White was 48.

Ira Kaufman confirmed this information through an independent source.

White played for the Bucs from 1996 through 2001 and was best known for his interception of Kurt Warner in the NFC Championship game of the 1999 season.

Bucs fans may know that in recent years, White became sort of a social media celebrity for his football acumen. He was a guy who couldn’t get enough of breaking down his former team, the Bucs, and football in general. Periodically, White made local radio appearances to talk Bucs and NFL.

He also broke down NFL film for SB Nation and wrote his “Bull Rush” column for JoeBucsFan.com in 2009 and 2010. He also was a featured guest at the 2015 JoeBucsFan NFL Draft party in Clearwater.

White lived in the area and after his playing days spent a year as an assistant on Jim Leavitt’s staff at USF. He also was a Buccaneers coaching intern in 2014 under Lovie Smith.

On his Twitter feed, White announced in April he would be admitted to Moffitt Cancer Center “for at least a month” as he needed a bone marrow transplant in his battle with leukemia. White also noted on his Twitter feed he had been battling CLL cancer for some years.

White, who was a heavy Twitter user, last posted on the site on July 31. Since he joined the platform in August 2009, White amassed some 404,000 Twitter posts. He seldom posted on Twitter after announcing he would be admitted to Moffitt.

Joe knew of no one who was as much of a football-holic as White.

White was a Memphis native and played at the University of Tennessee (briefly with Peyton Manning) and was drafted by the Eagles in 1996 in the sixth round. He quickly found his way to the Bucs where he would play for six seasons.

White left after Father Dungy was fired. Joe remembers White telling Joe that his career was coming to an end so he decided to go to the Jets for the money in 2002. Then-Jets head coach Herm Edwards, per White, made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. That was his final NFL season.

In leaving the Bucs he missed out on winning a Super Bowl ring.

Joe offers condolences to White’s family.

48 Responses to “Former Bucs DE Stephen White Dies At 48”

  1. geno711 Says:

    So sad to hear. He had a place in our Bucs history.

  2. Buddha Says:

    Rest in piece. Great analyst if defenses.

  3. GOB Says:

    Terrible. Praying for his family and friends.

  4. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Peace and Blessing to his Love Ones

  5. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Dwayne White, was the last defensive lineman drafted by the Bucs – to record 10 sacks in a season.

  6. JimmyJack Says:

    For those who dont remember White was a very solid player on an All Time DLine. He made quite a key huge plays for us.

  7. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    My bad I though it was Dewayne White.

    Damn hate to hear it was Steve.
    He was a real solid dude.

  8. David Says:

    RIP and all the best to his family and friends

  9. Joe Says:

    He made quite a key huge plays for us.

    Pick of Kurt Warner in 1999 NFL title game. Tipped a pass and caught it.

  10. Cannon Says:

    Fawk… I really enjoyed his breakdowns 🙁

    RIP big fella

  11. shmo Says:

    tragic, so young. he was one of a kind

  12. August 1976 Buc Says:

    RIP Steve

  13. BigMacAttack Says:

    Rest Easy Big Man. I loved when Steve provided commentary and insight on JBF. Such a cool guy willing to share his extensive knowledge of d-line play especially. Steve loved to talk about pass rush games. I remember at one point he even went back and helped coach the Bucs D-line, maybe as an intern. Joe knows and has the goods. I miss Steve White.

  14. T REX Says:

    RIP STEVE!!!!!

  15. 74 Bucs Fan Says:

    Stylez G White was awesome! RIP

  16. SB Says:

    We will miss you Styles!!

  17. Architek Says:

    Noooooooooooo

  18. BucAF Says:

    Not Stylez

  19. Bucfan1988 Says:

    This isn’t Styles (Greg) White people!!!

    Different guy!

    RIP Steve!!

  20. Your Mom Says:

    sure hope he wasn’t another CTE victim

  21. SteelStudBuc Says:

    RIP #94 You will be missed!

  22. unbelievable Says:

    Damn, RIP Mr. White

    Loved his football breakdowns on Twitter. Ive followed him on there for years and even conversed with him many times.

  23. gotbbucs Says:

    So sad.

    I loved his contribution to this site in those early years. I really looked forward to his next post or breakdown. He was a huge reason why I became addicted to JoeBucsFan. I’m sure there are others that feel the same way.
    I’ve longed for this site to find someone else to give the kind of in depth breakdown that Steve used to give us and I always wondered what became of him.
    RIP Steve

  24. gotbbucs Says:

    I think it would be a pretty awesome time portal Joe’s to pull up an old Steve White breakdown and repost it for us old timers and give the newbies a taste of what they missed out on in those early JBF years.

    Would maybe be a nice send-off for Mr. White as well.

  25. FortMyersDave Says:

    I agree gotbbucs, I would love to see an old Bull Rush column myself from the early JBF days. Dude was fulĺ of insight and knowledge. RIP #94. Man, cancer sux!

  26. CleanHouse Says:

    Sad day

  27. HomerSimpsonRocks Says:

    Damn shame. RIP

  28. Evo Says:

    Well done Joe. Well said and well done.

  29. Red86 Says:

    Rest in love. You will be missed.

  30. BucBoy Says:

    So many dying young. Life is a blink of the eye.

  31. Aceofaerospace Says:

    Rest In Peace Stephen. You suffer no more.

  32. SB~LV Says:

    Sad…. A very smart and articulate man. I used to get into the RayJay hour+ early before the official team warmups. I enjoyed watching the players interact with friends on other teams. White always had the same routine in the south EZ , sitting and stretching with his white headphones listening to his music getting himself eased into the day.
    RIP Warrior!

  33. Erick Says:

    Rest In Peace, big fella!

  34. Bucs Win Says:

    So sad, RIP Big Steve.

  35. Mort Says:

    Loved him on the What the Buc podcast a few years ago. Dude was outspoken and authentic. RIP dude.

  36. Buczilla Says:

    Rest in peace Mr. White.

  37. Mike C Says:

    Didn’t win a super bowl, but was part of that 99 Buccaneers Defense, one of the best Defenses of all time.

  38. TAMPA BAY DEMON Says:

    Far too young. It was a joy watching him play for our BUCS… and he seemed like a really cool, likeable person.

    R.I.P Steve White
    Blessings to your family.

  39. 99 55 47 20 Says:

    R.I.P. Sir. It was a blessing to see you play.
    Prayers for his family

  40. Bucamania Says:

    Man that’s so sad to hear. RIP Steve.

  41. Rayjay1122 Says:

    Cancer sucks

  42. Chris Tucker@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    Wow, RIP Steve White
    I remember hanging out with him at the JBF Draft Party, and his reaction when we drafted OJ Howard, when so many other players we really needed were there to draft.
    I had no idea he was battling Cancer, and yes, Cancer Sucks!

  43. Capt.Tim Says:

    Loved his post here at JoeBuc. Brilliant analysis of the team- especially the D-line.
    RIP Mr.White.
    Cancer sucks

  44. Posey99 Says:

    Loved the bull rush blog he wrote. I remember he was one of the first, if not the first to talk about how good Michael Bennett was before he later became a house hold name and the bucs let him walk the streets.

  45. D-Rome Says:

    I’m devastated to hear the news. I remember when Steve White would write for JBF every once in a while back in 2009 and 2010. I can’t believe I’ve been coming to this site nearly every day for 13 years.

    My condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Steve White. RIP.

  46. matthew veal Says:

    Sad day. Highest respect for him, then and now.

  47. Jonny Says:

    Stephen White was one of the most underrated defensive line talent evaluators ever. He hyped Geno Atkins big time in 2010 draft and hyped Aaron Donald ridiculously in the 2014 draft class. He had long columns on why he thought these were some of the best D-linemen to come in a long time. And he was right. The guy also had the talent for writing. Very few former players have that skill. I was always hoping he would become an assistant coach with the BUCS.

  48. Oddball Says:

    F&@k cancer