Cody White Bio
Cody White (born November 28, 1998) is an American professional football wide receiver and kickoff returner for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 227 pounds, he plays a physical, downfield brand of football and contributes on special teams. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans before beginning his professional career as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
White’s path to the NFL has been marked by persistence, with stops on multiple practice squads and brief stints with several franchises before finding a long-term home in Seattle. His father, Sheldon White, is a former NFL defensive back and long-time front office executive, which gave Cody an early understanding of the league’s demands. Across his career, he has been valued for his size, blocking, and reliability as both a receiver and a returner.
Early Life and Background
Cody White was born and raised in Novi, Michigan, where he attended Walled Lake Western High School. A multi-sport athlete, he played baseball, basketball, football, and ran track, which helped him develop the coordination and toughness that later defined his playing style. His father, Sheldon White, played defensive back in the NFL for six seasons and went on to spend 19 years in the Detroit Lions’ front office before joining Michigan State’s coaching staff, giving Cody direct exposure to professional football from a young age.
As a senior at Walled Lake Western, White moved into the quarterback role for the first three games of the season after the starter was injured. He passed for 638 yards and nine touchdowns in that span and finished the year with 43 receptions for 705 yards and nine touchdowns as a receiver, while also adding 576 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. His all-purpose production earned him Michigan’s Mr. Football Award. White has also credited his early development to his polarizing little league coach, Paul Alati, who helped shape his competitive foundation.
Path to American Football
White’s path to college football ran through the same Spartans program where his father later coached. He arrived at Michigan State as a true freshman and immediately made an impact at receiver, setting a school record for a first-year player with 490 receiving yards on 35 catches and four touchdowns. That production confirmed his potential as a perimeter target and a reliable possession receiver at the Big Ten level.
As a sophomore, injuries cost him four games, but he still led the Spartans with 555 receiving yards on 42 receptions and two touchdown catches. In his junior season, White took over as the primary option in the passing game, leading Michigan State with 66 receptions for 922 yards and six touchdowns. After the season he announced he would forgo his senior year and enter the 2020 NFL Draft, finishing his college career with 143 catches for 1,967 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Cody White Career
Early Career (2020)
White went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on April 25, 2020. He was waived by Kansas City on July 29, 2020, before the start of the regular season. A week later, on August 11, he signed with the New York Giants, but he was released just six days later on August 17.
On August 23, 2020, White was signed by the Denver Broncos, only to be waived on September 5 during final roster cuts. He then joined the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad on September 24, 2020, where he finished his first professional season. Across three teams in a single year, White showed enough on special teams and as a practice player to remain on NFL rosters heading into 2021.
Pittsburgh Steelers Tenure (2020–2022)
White signed a reserve/futures contract with Pittsburgh on January 14, 2021, securing a spot on the offseason roster. He was waived at the end of training camp on August 31, 2021, and re-signed to the practice squad. On September 26, 2021, he was elevated to the active roster for a Week 3 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, making his NFL debut with two receptions for 17 yards in a 24–10 loss.
After that debut, White was signed to the Steelers’ active roster on October 9, 2021. The following year, on August 30, 2022, he was waived and returned to the practice squad the next day, then signed another reserve/future deal in January 2023. He was waived and injured in August 2023 and reverted to injured reserve before being released by Pittsburgh on August 25, ending his Steelers tenure after three seasons primarily spent on the practice squad.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2023–Present)
On October 18, 2023, the Seattle Seahawks signed White to their practice squad, released him on October 24, and brought him back on November 26 before signing a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024. In 2024 he was waived on August 27 and re-signed to the practice squad, then promoted to the active roster on November 2. In a Week 9 game against the Los Angeles Rams, he recorded two catches for 44 yards and a blocked punt, showing his value on offense and special teams.
In 2025, White was released on September 11 and re-signed to the practice squad, then promoted to the active roster on September 17 before being moved back to the practice squad on September 19. He was elevated again ahead of a Week 9 matchup against the Washington Commanders, where he scored his first NFL touchdown on a 60-yard reception from quarterback Sam Darnold. On November 8, he was signed to the active roster, cementing his role in the Seahawks’ offense and special teams units.
Driving Style and Strengths
White is a physical, long-striding receiver whose 6-foot-3 frame and 227-pound build make him a mismatch against smaller defensive backs. He is effective as a perimeter blocker in the run game, reliable in contested-catch situations, and disciplined in his assignments, which is why he has been able to contribute across offense and special teams. His experience bouncing between active rosters and practice squads has also made him a steady, low-mistake option in the locker room.
Notable Events and Milestones
White’s first NFL touchdown, a 60-yard catch against the Washington Commanders in Week 9 of 2025, stands as his most celebrated professional moment to date. Earlier milestones include setting the Michigan State record for receiving yards by a true freshman, earning Michigan’s Mr. Football Award in high school, and carving out a multi-year NFL career as an undrafted player. A blocked punt against the Los Angeles Rams in 2024 also highlighted his special teams value.
Cody White Career Wins
Cody White’s professional career has not been defined by large win totals in any major series, as he has spent the majority of his time on practice squads and special teams roles. His wins, in a statistical sense, come primarily from team victories during the 2021, 2023, and 2024 NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks. His most memorable individual performance remains his first NFL touchdown reception against Washington in 2025.
Seattle Seahawks Highlights
With the Seattle Seahawks, White has built a profile as a versatile reserve, contributing as both a wide receiver and a kickoff returner. His first NFL touchdown came on a 60-yard reception from Sam Darnold in a Week 9 game against the Washington Commanders, and he added a blocked punt against the Los Angeles Rams in 2024. Across the 2024 and 2025 seasons he has split time between the practice squad and the active roster, with multiple elevations that reflect the team’s trust in his readiness.
Other Wins and Performances
White’s pre-professional highlight was winning Michigan’s Mr. Football Award in his senior year at Walled Lake Western High School, capping a dominant high school career in which he produced as a passer, rusher, and receiver. At Michigan State, he finished with 143 receptions for 1,967 yards and 12 touchdowns across three seasons, leaving as one of the more productive pass catchers in the Spartans’ recent history.
Cody White Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cody White comes from a football family. His father, Sheldon White, played defensive back in the NFL for six seasons and went on to serve 19 years in the Detroit Lions’ front office before joining the Michigan State Spartans coaching staff. Growing up around the league and a Power 5 program gave Cody an early and unusually clear understanding of the work required to last in professional football.
Personal Life
Public details about Cody White’s personal life beyond his family background in football are limited. He is the son of Sheldon White, and his upbringing in Novi, Michigan, has remained connected to his family and to the Michigan State program. Further personal information has not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been defined by White’s continued push to become a steady contributor for the Seattle Seahawks. He was released and re-signed to the practice squad early in the year before being elevated to the active roster, and he responded with his first career NFL touchdown, a 60-yard reception from Sam Darnold against the Washington Commanders. That performance helped him earn a longer stay on the active roster when he was signed on November 8.
His role has combined work at wide receiver with contributions on special teams, including a blocked punt the previous season that carried into his 2025 resume. The Seahawks have used his size and blocking as part of their run game plan, while his downfield speed has shown up in chunk plays like his touchdown grab. With the season still progressing, his outlook is tied to maintaining his health and his role on offense and special teams.