Mike White Bio
Michael White is an American professional football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). Born on March 25, 1995, in Pembroke Pines, Florida, he has spent his professional career as a journeyman backup who has stepped into prominent roles when teams have needed him. White played college football at South Florida and Western Kentucky, earning Conference USA Newcomer of the Year honors in 2016 and second-team All-Conference USA recognition in 2017. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys and has since appeared for the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, and Carolina Panthers.
Early Life and Background
Michael White grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he attended NSU University School. He did not earn the starting quarterback role on his high school team until his senior season, a late but decisive ascent that shaped his development as a passer. In that final year, he threw for 2,201 yards and 22 touchdowns with only two interceptions, leading his team to a 3A state championship and earning Class 3A Florida Player of the Year honors. Beyond football, White was a highly regarded baseball pitcher, posting a 9-2 record with a 0.43 earned run average and receiving All-Broward County recognition as a junior. He committed to the University of South Florida to continue his football career.
Path to American Football
White enrolled at South Florida in 2013, where he started five games as a true freshman and completed 93 of 175 passes for 1,083 yards with three touchdowns and nine interceptions. He entered his sophomore season as the named starter, completing 122 of 242 passes for 1,639 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions across 10 starts. After South Florida head coach Willie Taggart shifted to a spread offense, White transferred to Western Kentucky University in 2015 and sat out the year under NCAA transfer rules. He took over as the starter in 2016, completing 280 of 416 passes for 4,363 yards and 37 touchdowns, and followed that with a senior season of 368 of 560 for 4,177 yards and 26 touchdowns. His senior campaign earned him an invitation to the 2018 Senior Bowl, where he completed 8 of 11 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns and lifted his draft stock.
Mike White Career
Early Career (2018)
The Dallas Cowboys selected White in the fifth round, 171st overall, of the 2018 NFL Draft, making him the eighth quarterback taken that year and the highest-drafted passer in Western Kentucky history. On May 12, 2018, the Cowboys signed him to a four-year, 2.67 million dollar contract that included a signing bonus of 217,553 dollars, and he made the roster as the third-string quarterback. During the 2019 preseason, White competed for the backup job behind Dak Prescott, but Dallas waived him on August 31 after choosing to carry only two quarterbacks on the regular-season roster.
New York Jets Breakthrough (2019-2022)
On September 25, 2019, White signed with the New York Jets practice squad and signed a reserve and future contract on December 30. He spent the 2020 season moving between the practice squad and the active roster, being elevated for the Jets’ Week 5 and Week 6 games against the Arizona Cardinals and Dolphins. White made his regular-season debut on October 24, 2021, replacing the injured Zach Wilson in a Week 7 loss to the New England Patriots and finishing with 202 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. His first career start came the following week against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he completed 37 of 45 passes for 405 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 34-31 victory, an effort that earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week and made him the first Jets quarterback since Vinny Testaverde in 2000 to throw for more than 400 yards. He re-signed with the Jets on March 16, 2022, and was named the Week 12 starter after Wilson was benched, throwing for 315 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-10 win over the Chicago Bears. White later passed for 369 yards against the Minnesota Vikings and 268 yards against the Buffalo Bills, but he suffered two broken ribs in the loss to Buffalo, played through five broken ribs in a Week 17 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks, and was ruled out for the season finale against the Dolphins.
Miami Dolphins Era (2023-2024)
On March 16, 2023, White signed a two-year contract with the Miami Dolphins to serve as the backup to Tua Tagovailoa. He appeared in six games, completing 5 of 6 passes for 74 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown to Robbie Chosen during garbage time of a 70-20 win over the Denver Broncos. In 2024, White was passed on the depth chart by Skylar Thompson and was released on August 25 after the Dolphins chose to keep only two quarterbacks on their roster.
Buffalo Bills Era (2024-2025)
On August 28, 2024, White signed with the Buffalo Bills practice squad with Mitchell Trubisky expected to miss time. The Bills elevated him to the active roster for a December 1 game against the San Francisco 49ers, signed him to the active roster on January 3, 2025, and extended him through the 2025 season. He was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts.
Cincinnati Bengals and Carolina Panthers Era (2025)
On September 16, 2025, White signed with the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad and was released on October 7. On October 21, White signed to the Carolina Panthers practice squad and was promoted to the active roster on October 30. He was released on November 8 and re-signed to the practice squad three days later.
Notable Events and Milestones
White’s most defining professional moment came in his first career start, a 405-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021 that earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors and placed him in the company of Vinny Testaverde and Cam Newton. He has also been recognized for his toughness, having played through two broken ribs against the Buffalo Bills and later through five broken ribs against the Seattle Seahawks before being shut down for the season. In college, his 4,363-yard, 37-touchdown 2016 season earned him Conference USA Newcomer of the Year, and his 4,177-yard 2017 senior campaign produced second-team All-Conference USA recognition.
Mike White Family
Personal Life
Michael White is married to Mallory White. The couple have two children together, a twin son and a daughter.
2025 Season Performance
White entered the 2025 season without a team after being released by the Buffalo Bills in final roster cuts on August 26. He signed with the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad on September 16 and was released on October 7, spending a month as a developmental option behind the Bengals’ top passers. White then joined the Carolina Panthers practice squad on October 21, was elevated to the active roster on October 30, and was released on November 8 before returning to the practice squad three days later.
His role with Carolina has been that of a veteran reserve capable of stepping in when needed, drawing on his experience as a starter with the New York Jets and as a backup with the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. The 2025 campaign has reinforced White’s value as a dependable insurance policy at quarterback, a player who has repeatedly been elevated from practice squads to active rosters across multiple franchises. With the Panthers rebuilding their depth chart, White’s familiarity with spread concepts from his Western Kentucky days and his track record of productive spot starts make him a steady late-season presence.