Kyzir White Bio
Kyzir Rasim White is an American professional football linebacker born on March 24, 1996, in Macungie, Pennsylvania. Standing 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and listed at 234 lb (106 kg), he has built a steady career in the National Football League through his speed, instincts, and tackling consistency. Selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers, he has since suited up for the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers, establishing himself as a reliable defensive presence at the linebacker position.
Early Life and Background
Kyzir Rasim White grew up in Macungie, Pennsylvania, and attended Emmaus High School, where he played for a football program competing in the highly competitive East Penn Conference. His play in high school drew the attention of national recruiting services, including MaxPreps, which featured him among the top prospects at his position. Those early performances helped set the stage for a college recruitment that would eventually take him from the Keystone State to two different college football programs.
White comes from a football family that helped shape his path to the professional level. He has two brothers, Kevin and Ka’Raun, both of whom also played college football at Lackawanna before transferring to West Virginia, mirroring the route Kyzir would later take. Kevin White, the oldest of the three, became a first-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2015 as a wide receiver and later played for the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers, providing a clear example of professional success that Kyzir has followed in his own career.
Path to American Football
After high school, White began his college career at Lackawanna College, a junior college program in Pennsylvania, where he played for two seasons as a safety. His play at the JUCO level attracted attention from multiple Power Five programs, and he ultimately chose West Virginia over scholarship offers from Pittsburgh, Arizona State, Louisville, and Illinois. That decision marked his transition from a regional prospect to a player on the national recruiting radar.
At West Virginia, White became a two-year starter at the spur position, a hybrid linebacker-safety role that demanded versatility in both run support and pass coverage. Across 25 career starts for the Mountaineers, he recorded 152 total tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, nine passes defended, and four forced fumbles, producing the kind of all-around numbers that made him an attractive NFL prospect. In 2017, he was named Second-Team All-Big 12 after totaling 94 tackles, two forced fumbles, one sack, seven pass breakups, and three interceptions.
Kyzir White Career
Early Career (2018-2019)
The Los Angeles Chargers selected Kyzir Rasim White in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, making him the 119th overall pick and the 11th safety taken that year. He signed a four-year, $3.11 million rookie contract that included a signing bonus of $654,441. Almost immediately, the Chargers’ coaching staff decided to move him from safety to linebacker, and he impressed during rookie minicamp and training camp, eventually winning a starting role for the season-opener.
White made his NFL debut on September 9, 2018, against the Kansas City Chiefs and recorded six combined tackles. One week later, he picked off Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen for his first career interception. A knee injury in Week 3 cut his rookie year short, and he was placed on injured reserve in November 2018. He returned healthy in 2019 and continued to develop, adding another interception off Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco in Week 5 of that season.
Los Angeles Chargers Breakthrough (2020-2021)
White’s role with the Chargers expanded steadily through 2020 and 2021. During the 2020 season, he spent time on the reserve/COVID-19 list and later on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, but he remained a core member of the defensive rotation. By the 2021 campaign, he had grown into the Chargers’ starting linebacker and was the team’s leading tackler, finishing the year with 144 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, three passes defensed, and two interceptions.
That 2021 season marked White’s clearest breakthrough as a complete NFL linebacker. He showed the instincts and range that had been praised since his draft day, balancing run defense with enough coverage skill to make plays on the ball. His production that year made him one of the more attractive linebacker free agents heading into the 2022 offseason.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2022)
On March 26, 2022, Kyzir Rasim White signed a one-year contract worth up to $5 million with the Philadelphia Eagles. He stepped into a significant role on a defense that carried the Eagles deep into the postseason. White and Philadelphia advanced to Super Bowl LVII, where they fell 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs. In that Super Bowl appearance, White contributed four tackles, capping a successful single season in Philadelphia.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2023-2024)
On March 15, 2023, White signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals and quickly became a focal point of the team’s defense. In his first year in Arizona, he started 11 games and led the team with 90 tackles while adding two sacks, three passes defensed, and one interception. His veteran presence helped stabilize a young Cardinals defense.
White was even more productive in 2024, finishing second on the team with 137 tackles across 17 starts. He also recorded 2.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and one interception, demonstrating the same playmaking ability he had shown in his Chargers peak. His two seasons in Arizona cemented his reputation as a dependable tackler and a versatile linebacker.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the field, White is best known for his instincts, tackling reliability, and positional flexibility. Originally a safety, he has the speed to cover in space and the size to take on blockers in the run game, traits that make him effective against both the pass and the run. His comfort in hybrid roles, including the spur position he played at West Virginia, allows defensive coordinators to use him in a variety of assignments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among White’s most notable career moments are his first NFL interception off Josh Allen in 2018, his 144-tackle 2021 season with the Chargers, and his appearance in Super Bowl LVII with the Eagles. His run of 100-plus tackle seasons in 2021 and 2024 also stands out as a marker of his consistency, while his Second-Team All-Big 12 selection in 2017 remains a highlight from his college career.
Kyzir White Career Wins
While linebackers are not measured by wins in the same way as quarterbacks, Kyzir Rasim White has accumulated significant team success throughout his NFL career, including a Super Bowl appearance, multiple winning seasons, and individual statistical milestones such as a 144-tackle campaign in 2021 and 137 tackles in 2024.
NFL Highlights
White’s most productive NFL stretch came during the 2021 season, when he led the Chargers with 144 tackles. He has added at least 90 tackles in multiple seasons, including 90 in his first year with the Cardinals and 137 the following year. He has also been a steady contributor in coverage, with multiple career interceptions and consistent work in pass defense.
Kyzir White Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kyzir Rasim White grew up in a football household alongside his brothers Kevin and Ka’Raun White. All three played at Lackawanna College before transferring to West Virginia, making the family one of the more notable pipelines from the Pennsylvania junior college program to the Big 12. Kevin White became a first-round NFL Draft pick in 2015, giving Kyzir a direct family connection to the league he now plays in.
Personal Life
White’s personal life remains largely private, with most public information centered on his football career and his family ties. His brothers remain an important part of his story, both as a support system and as examples of the level he has worked to reach in the NFL. Beyond his family, he is known for maintaining the workmanlike approach that has defined his career across multiple teams.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, White was released from his Arizona Cardinals contract after two productive seasons, opening the door for the next chapter of his career. On September 3, 2025, he was signed to the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad, giving him a fresh opportunity to contribute on a new defense. He was released by the Titans on December 8, 2025, ending his time in Tennessee during the regular season.
Shortly after his release, White was signed to the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad on January 7, 2026, positioning him for a potential late-season postseason push. His path from starter to practice squad role in 2025 reflects the business side of the NFL, but it also gives him a chance to compete for a roster spot and playing time with one of the league’s most consistent organizations.
Across his career, White has totaled 618 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 6 interceptions, and 23 pass deflections. Those cumulative numbers highlight the durability and production he has offered at every stop, from Los Angeles to Philadelphia, Arizona, Tennessee, and now San Francisco.
