A Continued Career in the NFL

In the 1980s and 1990s, Reggie White was a force to be reckoned with in the NFL. The defensive end was second all-time in terms of career sacks and twice earned Defensive Player of the Year. He was also well known for being an ardent Christian, earning him the moniker "Minister of Defense."

In his 14th season, White decided to leave the NFL in 1998. He was experiencing significant back problems and believed the time had come for him to pass. He made his retirement announcement on a Sunday. He claimed that God told him not to retire when he was having back surgery on Monday. Despite his ailing back, he still needed to complete a contract for one more year. He had just needed to complete two of the five years of a deal he had signed the previous year. Despite being out for the 1999 season, he chose to give it another go because he had promised to withdraw that second year. In the end, White did return for the 2000 campaign, competing for the Carolina Panthers before announcing his re-retirement at the conclusion of the campaign.

Position: Defensive end