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 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. Standing 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and weighing 290 lb (132 kg), White plays on the edge of the defensive line and has developed into a steady rotational pass rusher at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Keion White grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and attended Garner Magnet High School, where he was a starter at both tight end and defensive end on the football team. As a senior, he earned first-team All-Greater Neuse River Conference honors after recording 20 catches for 243 yards and four touchdowns, showing his two-way athletic profile even before he reached the college ranks. Rated a three-star recruit, White chose to play college football at Old Dominion over offers from Elon, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T, and Virginia State.
Path to American Football
White began his college career at Old Dominion as a tight end, redshirting his true freshman season before starting eight games as a redshirt freshman and catching 11 passes for 124 yards. Entering his redshirt sophomore season, he moved to defensive end, where he made an immediate impact with 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, where he would develop into an NFL prospect.
Keion White Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
White spent his first four college seasons at Old Dominion, transitioning from offense to defense during a redshirt sophomore campaign that established him as a disruptive pass rusher. His 2019 All-Conference USA recognition signaled his arrival as a defender, and his decision to opt out in 2020 and enter the transfer portal set the stage for a higher level of competition. The 2019 totals of 3.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss remain the statistical foundation of his draft profile.
Georgia Tech Breakthrough (2021–2022)
White transferred to Georgia Tech but broke his ankle in a pick-up basketball game before his first season, costing him the first eight games of 2021. He returned to play in the final four games of the year, recording four tackles, and then used the extra year of eligibility granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic to return for the 2022 season. As a fifth-year senior, he produced enough across the 2022 season to be named Third-team All-ACC and to position himself as a second-round NFL draft pick the following spring.
New England Patriots Era (2023–2025)
Keion White was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round, 46th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft. As a rookie, he appeared in all 16 games with four starts, finishing with 26 total tackles (12 solo), one sack, and three pass deflections. In the 2024 season opener at Cincinnati, White led the Patriots to a victory by recording 2.5 sacks on quarterback Joe Burrow, along with four total tackles, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits, in one of the most disruptive Week 1 performances of his young career.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2025–Present)
On October 29, 2025, White was traded to the San Francisco 49ers along with a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. The move gave him a fresh opportunity on a contending defensive line and aligned with a contract window that runs through the 2027 season. As of the trade, White had built a regular-season resume that included 100 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 9 pass deflections in his NFL career.
Notable Events and Milestones
White’s most memorable professional moment to date came in the 2024 season opener, when his 2.5-sack performance against Joe Burrow powered New England to a road win in Cincinnati. His selection in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft and his trade to the 49ers in 2025 also mark the defining structural milestones of his professional path. Off the field, White was shot in the ankle following a disagreement at a San Francisco event on February 9, 2026, and received emergency surgery the same day; he is expected to make a full recovery.
Keion White Family
Personal Life
Public details about Keion White’s family background and personal relationships are limited, and he has kept much of his private life out of the spotlight. He is widely known by his full name and is professionally identified by his longtime Instagram handle, where he shares updates from his playing career. Beyond his immediate family ties, most publicly available information centers on his football journey from Raleigh, North Carolina to the NFL.
2025 Season Performance
Keion White began the 2025 season with the New England Patriots, continuing the rotational pass-rushing role he had carved out the previous fall. His 2.5-sack performance in Cincinnati the prior year carried into early-season expectations for more production off the edge. Through the first portion of the year, he was on pace to add to his career totals of 7.5 sacks and 100 tackles.
On October 29, 2025, White was dealt to the San Francisco 49ers, joining a defense known for its aggressive front and playoff ambitions. The trade represented a reset on a more competitive roster and an opportunity to contribute to a contender in the second half of the season. The change of scenery also aligned with a contract that keeps him in the NFL through the 2027 season.
Looking ahead, White’s outlook for the remainder of the 2025 season and beyond centers on growing into a larger role within the 49ers’ defensive rotation and adding to his pass-rushing totals. With his size, length, and prior production as a second-round pick, he remains a developmental edge player whose best football is still expected to come. His transition from New England to San Francisco marks the start of a new chapter that will shape his standing in the league for years to come.
