Philadelphia Eagles release linebacker Devin White

The Philadelphia Eagles announced they have released All-Pro linebacker Devin White. The team signed White to a one-year contract in March, and he did not play in any games this year.

After White signed with the Eagles, he competed with Nakobe Dean for the starting linebacker job during training camp and lost. This led to him being inactive in each of the Eagles’ first four games.

“I just think from the start of Training Camp to the end, he won the job,” Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio said last month, per the Eagles’ official website.

White spent his first five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was selected by Tampa No. 5 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft and made the All-Rookie Team after posting 58 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns. In 2020, White was selected to the All-Pro Second Team after registering 140 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, nine sacks and four passes defended. The former LSU Tigers star followed that up with a strong 2021 season, tallying 128 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and three passes defended.

Devin White talks about the mistakes he made with the Buccaneers

Before the start of the 2023 season, White talked about his future with the Buccaneers after backing off a trade request he made earlier in the year. “I just wanted to be the guy here for a long time,” White said, per the Tampa Bay Times. “After just sitting down with coach [Todd] Bowles and Jason Licht and just understanding their plans for me. … See how I can do better. Moving forward, we all came to an agreement, and that’s why I’m here now, just focusing on the season now.”

When White signed with the Eagles, he vowed to not make the same mistake he made with the Buccaneers. “That’s where I had trouble last year, just trying to be their guy rather than going out there and continuing to have fun with the game and making plays,” White said, per Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports. “I think that’s where being a great football player comes when you’re out there smiling and celebrating and not really focusing on the business side.”