Keion White Bio
Keion White, born January 20, 1999, is an American professional football defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Old Dominion Monarchs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets before being selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. A versatile athlete who transitioned from tight end to pass rusher, White has built his early NFL career on disruptive edge play and steady contributions against the run.
Early Life and Background
Keion White grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he attended Garner Magnet High School. At Garner Magnet, he was a starter on the football team, lining up at both tight end and defensive end. As a senior, White was named first team All-Greater Neuse River Conference after recording 20 catches for 243 yards and four touchdowns as a tight end. His senior performance helped him earn a three-star recruit rating from scouting services.
Coming out of high school, White drew college interest from several programs and ultimately chose Old Dominion over offers from Elon, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T, and Virginia State. His decision to join a Conference USA program reflected both his confidence in his own development path and Old Dominion’s willingness to use him in a versatile offensive role. That early belief in his athletic upside would later shape his move to defense at the college level.
Path to American Football
White began his college career at Old Dominion playing tight end, a position he held while adjusting to the speed of the college game. After redshirting his true freshman season, he started eight games as a redshirt freshman and caught 11 passes for 124 yards, showing reliable hands and the physical profile that would later attract defensive coaches.
Entering his redshirt sophomore season, White made a pivotal position switch to defensive end, a change that quickly paid off. In his first season on the defensive side of the ball, he produced 62 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 19 tackles for loss, earning Second-team All-Conference USA honors in 2019. After opting out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, White entered the NCAA transfer portal and committed to Georgia Tech to continue his growth against top-tier competition.
Keion White Career
Early Career (2023)
Keion White entered the NFL when the New England Patriots selected him in the second round, 46th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft. As a rookie defensive end, he appeared in all 16 games with four starts and finished the season with one sack, 26 total tackles including 12 solo stops, and three pass deflections. His playing time grew steadily through the year as he adjusted to professional offensive tackles and the Patriots’ defensive scheme.
New England Patriots (2023–2025)
In his second NFL season, White flashed the pass-rushing potential that had marked his college tape. During the Patriots’ Week 1 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, White recorded 2.5 sacks of quarterback Joe Burrow, along with four total tackles, two tackles for a loss, and three quarterback hits. That performance set the tone for a season in which he became a more consistent rotational edge rusher for New England.
White remained with the Patriots through the early portion of the 2025 season before being dealt to a new club. His time in New England helped him refine his hand technique and conditioning for full-time defensive end duties at the pro level.
San Francisco 49ers (2025–Present)
On October 29, 2025, Keion White was traded to the San Francisco 49ers along with a conditional 2026 seventh-round draft pick in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. The move gave White an opportunity to join a contending defense and contribute as a depth piece on the edge. He is under contract with the 49ers through the 2027 season.
Notable Events and Milestones
White’s 2.5-sack performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 of the 2024 season stands as his most celebrated single-game showing to date. Being selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft and earning Second-team All-Conference USA honors in 2019 represent the two clearest benchmarks of his rise from a three-star high school recruit to a starting-caliber NFL defensive lineman.
Keion White Career Wins
As a defensive lineman, Keion White’s statistical impact is measured in pressures, sacks, and tackles rather than traditional win totals. Across his first two-plus NFL seasons, he has accumulated multiple sacks, including a 2.5-sack game against the Bengals, and consistently contributed tackles for loss and quarterback hits from the edge.
Other Wins & Performances
White earned Second-team All-Conference USA recognition in 2019 during his redshirt sophomore season at Old Dominion, recording 3.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. After transferring to Georgia Tech, he earned Third-team All-ACC honors in 2022, capping his college career with conference-level recognition at the highest level of his college trajectory.
Keion White Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Keion White’s parents and broader family background are not widely documented in verified sources. He grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and built his athletic foundation there before leaving for college.
Personal Life
Keion White stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs around 132 kilograms, a frame that has defined his style as a long, powerful edge rusher. Information about a spouse, partner, or children has not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been defined by a mid-season change of scenery for Keion White. After beginning the year with the New England Patriots, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers on October 29, 2025, joining a defense known for its aggressive front seven. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to contribute on a contender late in the schedule.
Looking ahead, White is signed with the 49ers through the 2027 season, giving him multi-year stability to develop further as a pass rusher. His combination of size, length, and prior production against top NFL offenses positions him as a player to watch as he settles into San Francisco’s defensive rotation.