Rookie of the Year: Sammy White, 1976

Wide Receiver, Minnesota Vikings

Age: 22

College: Grambling

Height: 5’11” Weight: 189

Prelude:

White was a wingback in college who scored 43 touchdowns overall and was Southwestern Athletic Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 1975. He was chosen by the Vikings in the second round of the ’76 NFL draft and he moved into the starting role vacated by John Gilliam, who had departed for the Falcons.

1976 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 51 [11, tied with Ken Burrough]   

Most receptions, game – 9 (for 139 yds.) vs. LA Rams 9/19, (for 120 yds.) at Miami 12/11

Yards – 906 [5, 1st in NFC]

Most yards, game – 210 (on 7 catches) vs. Detroit 11/7

Average gain – 17.8 [15]

TDs – 10 [3, tied with Bob Chandler & Dave Casper, 1st in NFC]

200-yard receiving games – 1

100-yard receiving games – 3

Rushing

Attempts – 5

Yards – -10

Average gain – -2.0

TDs – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 9

Yards – 173

Average per return – 19.2

TDs – 0

Longest return – 36 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 3

Yards – 45

Average per return – 15.0

TDs – 0

Longest return – 31 yards

Scoring

TDs – 10 [9, tied with Bob Chandler, Dave Casper & Andy Johnson]

Points – 60

Postseason: 3 G

Pass receptions – 9

Most pass receptions, game – 5 vs. Oakland, Super Bowl

Pass receiving yards – 141

Most pass receiving yards, game – 77 vs. Oakland, Super Bowl

Average yards per reception – 15.7

Pass Receiving TDs – 3

Rushing attempts – 1

Rushing yards – 7

Rushing TDs – 0

Kickoff returns – 4

Kickoff return yards – 79

Kickoff return avg. – 19.8

Kickoff return TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

NFC Rookie of the Year: UPI, NEA, Sporting News

1^st team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Vikings went 11-2-1 to finish first in the NFC Central while leading the conference in passing yards (2855). Won NFC Divisional playoff over Washington Redskins (35-20) and NFC Championship over Los Angeles Rams (24-13). Lost Super Bowl to Oakland Raiders (32-14).

Aftermath:

Fast and a potent deep receiver, and benefiting from the presence of Ahmad Rashad on the other side, White had another Pro Bowl year in 1977 as he caught 41 passes for 760 yards (18.5 avg.) and nine touchdowns. While he was not chosen to the Pro Bowl again, he remained a consistent and productive receiver, peaking with a 1981 season in which he achieved career highs in receptions (66) and yards (1001). White missed five games due to a muscle pull in 1983 and further injuries limited his effectiveness in his last two seasons of 1984 and ’85. Over the course of ten seasons that were all with the Vikings, White caught 393 passes for 6400 yards (16.3 avg.) and 50 touchdowns, and he had another 17 catches for 313 yards (18.4 avg.) and five TDs in the postseason.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).