Sixteen days and this undrafted free agent had seen enough of the NFL.
Squirrel White, who signed with the Bears after not being picked in the 2026 NFL Draft, promptly retired from football Monday.
The former Tennessee and Florida State receiver battled injuries throughout his college career, playing in just 10 games for the Seminoles last season while tallying five catches for 52 yards in his senior season.
Squirrel White retired from the NFL after just 16 days. Getty Images White battled multiple ailments during his career in Tennessee as well, including a PCL sprain that hampered him through the end of his college career.
He was an intriguing prospect in the undrafted free-agent pool, with blazing 4.28 40-yard dash speed, though he was undersized at 5-foot-9 and 177 pounds.
While in Chicago at rookie camp, White was seen walking off with trainers at last Friday’s practice and did not return to the field. No injuries were reported, and his health status is currently unknown.
The frustration for him at the end of his Tennessee tenure and struggles to get on the field consistently at Florida State certainly hurt his draft stock.
White had a strong 79 grade, according to Pro Football Focus, after his freshman season, when he logged 481 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Squirrel White was an intriguing deep threat with blazing speed. Getty Images He followed with a breakout 803-yard campaign and had another strong 70.8 grade, per PFF.
Injuries began piling up from there as White struggled to stay on the field consistently.
White, who announced he was entering the NFL draft in January, was viewed as a long shot to make the Bears’ roster entering camp.
Technically, his career never began, considering he did not make an active roster, but it’s one of the more bizarre stories of this NFL offseason.
The same can be said for Dolphins running back Le’Veon Moss, who reportedly will be placed on the reserve/retired list after signing with Miami as an undrafted free agent.
