Pittsburgh Steelers father-son tandem share special connection on Father's Day

A father-son bond is unrivaled. A coach-player bond is unbeatable. When you combine the two, it’s unbelievable.

A family business

Steelers director of pro scouting Sheldon White and Steelers second-year wide receiver Cody White understand this unbelievable relationship intimately. Cody began his time in Pittsburgh in 2020 on the team’s practice squad before being called up occasionally on game days.

Sheldon joined the organization last year after previously serving as a college scout for the Washington Commanders. Some of Cody’s teammates didn’t even realize Sheldon was his father until after the 2022 season.

“Some guys come up to me, like last year, guys came up to me in Week 16 and were like, ‘Man, I didn’t even know that was your dad.’ It’s crazy,” Cody White said, per Steelers.com. “It’s because we do not communicate in the building. You would never even know. Some people figure it out right away, some other people just didn’t know.”

Bumpy road to success

Cody’s NFL journey hasn’t been easy. The former Michigan State standout has just six career receptions for 35 yards. Cody White initially went undrafted before being signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. Within a matter of months, Cody moved from the Chiefs to the Giants to the Broncos before being waived and picked up by Pittsburgh just a month later.

While Cody’s obviously determined, the business can be brutal. When the 24-year-old is feeling discouraged, his dad is there to lift his spirits.

“You get in the NFL and it’s really hard now,” Sheldon White said. “He’s in the biggest battles of his life from that perspective, trying to make the team and be around it and play and get a chance. We’re in Indianapolis and I told him, ‘You might not think about this now, but when you’re done, you started a game on Monday Night Football.’ That’s pretty cool. The average is three years. You’re in Year 3.”

Keeping it professional

Sheldon has the experience to back up his words. He spent six years as a defensive back for the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants and Detroit Lions, recording 11 career interceptions. Although the father-son bond is strong, the duo maintain a professionalism at work.

“I’ll see him sometimes when I’m grabbing lunch, but other than that, we see each other more outside the building than inside the building to be honest,” Cody White said. “We’re on different paths. He’s doing his thing. I’m doing mine. It’s still a cool dynamic, though.”

A father’s love

Despite the professional outward appearance, Sheldon couldn’t be prouder of his son. Further, he has a message to other parents, who have a chance to watch their children chase their dreams.

“Every moment is a special moment,” Sheldon White said. “I was able to do that at Michigan State. I look at college and pro football as bonus for any parent. I always tell people (at the high school level), ‘Everybody just stop. You’re missing the moment. Your kid is probably going to be playing just a little longer and you’re missing the moment. If he plays in college, that’s bonus.’ This is a double bonus. Being able to be that close is special.”