Administration

Sheldon White is entering his 15th season with the Lions. During his first three years in the Lions’ personnel department, White fulfilled a myriad of roles: in 1997 as the team’s BLESTO area scout, in 1998 as an area scout and in 1999 working in both the college and pro scouting areas.

In his current capacity, White heads a team of personnel scouts that are responsible for evaluating all of the players in the National Football League as well as the current Lions roster. He plays a key role in free agency and assists in the draft. White is also involved in some salary cap issues, negotiating contracts for selected draft choices from Rounds 2-7 and selected free agents, and he handles the budgeting for the pro scouting department. Additionally, he is responsible for official daily personnel transactions and ensures that the team is in compliance with the NFL Player Personnel rules and regulations.

In 2004, White completed the NFL’s career development program at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

White, a Lions’ defensive back from 1990-92, initially re-joined the organization in ‘97 as a BLESTO scout after coaching wide receivers at his alma mater, Miami (Ohio) from 1994-96. That post followed a six-year NFL playing career in which White also saw action for the New York Giants in 1988-89 and the Cincinnati Bengals in 1993.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, White was a four-year starter at Miami (Ohio) from 1984-87, and was named to their first team All-Century team. He earned first-team All-MAC honors in 1986-87 and served as a key contributor to the school’s MAC title in ‘86.

In 1988, he was selected by the Giants in the third round of the NFL Draft, and was named to the All-NFL Rookie first-team by College & Pro Football Weekly. White was also named the team’s Rookie of the Year after leading the club with four interceptions. Following a two-year stint in New York, White signed with the Lions. He played three seasons in Detroit and was a member of the 1991 team that won the NFC Central title and advanced to the NFC Championship game. White then signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Bengals, where he spent the ‘93 campaign, before entering the coaching ranks at Miami (Ohio) in 1994.

In July 2004, White began serving as a member of the Business Advisory Council Executive Committee of the Richard T. Farmer School of Business at his alma mater, Miami University.

White is a graduate of Miami with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in finance. He and his wife, Amy, have four children: sons, Sheldon II, Jordan and Cody, and a daughter, Lacy.