White will reunite with former Patriots assistant Bret Bielema.
Former New England Patriots running back and three-time Super Bowl winner James White has found his first coaching gig. As was announced by the school on Thursday, the University of Illinois has hired him to coach their running backs.
Welcome 3-time Super Bowl champion, @SweetFeet_White, to Champaign!
https://t.co/Di48DaGMh0 pic.twitter.com/M76LQqwGXk
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) March 6, 2025
“Since first recruiting James out of St. Thomas Aquinas, he has continued to be an impressive person both on and off the football field,” Illini head coach and former Patriots assistant Bret Bielema said in a statement.
“James has always been a leader in the locker room and demanded respect from his teammates and coaches. With his experiences in the Big Ten and on the biggest stages in the NFL, he will be a great resource for our running backs.”
White joined the Patriots as a third-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Over the course of his eight-year career, he appeared in 107 regular season and playoff games as a versatile receiving back.