On December 28, 1998, Green Bay Packers defensive end Reggie White announced his retirement from the National Football League, telling reporters that he had felt called by God to step away from professional football. The decision came late in the 1998 season; White had already missed much of that year because of injury, and the timing of his announcement reflected both his physical condition and long-standing public commitment to his Christian faith. Reggie White entered the NFL as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles (after beginning his professional career in the USFL) and later became a defining defensive presence for the Green Bay Packers. By the time of his retirement announcement he had compiled an outstanding résumé: multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, a reputation as one of the league’s most productive pass rushers, and a prominent role in the Packers’ defensive unit that helped them capture Super Bowl XXXI in the 1996 season. He was widely regarded by teammates, opponents and analysts as one of the premier defensive players of his era. White's Christian faith was a well-known and consistent part of his public identity throughout his career. He was active in ministry and frequently spoke about the role of religion in his life. In public statements and interviews over the years, White linked his professional decisions and personal conduct to his religious beliefs. His retirement announcement framed the decision in spiritual terms, stating that God had spoken to him — a characterization he shared with the press rather than presenting a medical or solely performance-based reason for leaving the game. Contemporaneous reporting placed White’s retirement in the context of his age, injuries sustained during the 1998 season, and a lengthy and accomplished career. Teammates and coaches publicly respected his choice, while commentators noted the broader pattern of athletes citing personal or spiritual reasons when choosing to retire. White’s decision also prompted discussion about the intersection of faith and sport, an aspect of his public life that had drawn both admiration and debate throughout his career. After the announcement, White did not immediately disengage from football entirely; like many recently retired players, he remained involved in community activities, faith-based initiatives and occasional media appearances. His retirement, however, marked the end of his active playing career on the field. In subsequent years White’s legacy would be discussed in terms of both his on-field achievements — including career sack totals and honors — and his outsize role as a public figure who combined athletic excellence with outspoken religious conviction. Historical assessments of White’s retirement note that while his stated reason emphasized a spiritual calling, practical factors common to high-level athletes nearing the end of long careers — such as injury and recovery prospects — were also relevant. Contemporary news coverage and later retrospectives treat the announcement as the culmination of a distinguished career and as consistent with White’s long-standing pattern of integrating faith into his public decisions and identity. This account relies on contemporaneous press reports and public statements from the period surrounding White’s December 1998 announcement; it avoids attributing unpublished or unverifiable private remarks to specific individuals. Where interpretations differ in secondary sources, they are noted as context rather than definitive explanation.