Former Tennessee Volunteers and Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Squirrel White has announced his retirement from the NFL, just three days after signing as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears.
On May 11, Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team confirmed the news on X: “WR Squirrel White, who they signed as an undrafted free agent out of Florida State on April 25, is retiring from the NFL, the team announced.”
White, whose real name is Marquarius Malik “Squirrel” White, signed with Chicago on May 8 and participated in rookie minicamp over a single weekend before deciding to walk away. The Bears placed him on the reserve/retired list on May 11, making it one of the fastest retirements in franchise history.
The decision came abruptly during practice at Halas Hall. On Saturday, reporters observed White being escorted off the field by trainers during stretching, and he never returned. By Monday, his retirement was official, meaning he no longer counts against Chicago’s 90-man offseason roster. However, the Bears retain his exclusive NFL contract rights in case he decides to return during the 2026 season.
While White has not publicly explained his sudden retirement, he dealt with multiple lower-body injuries during his college career, including a knee and wrist issue in his final season at Florida State. Reports suggest he realized the physical grind of the NFL was not for him and plans to pursue other opportunities outside football.
White was a standout playmaker at Tennessee under Josh Heupel, breaking out as a sophomore with 67 catches for 803 yards. He earned Orange Bowl MVP honors with a 108-yard performance and finished his Vols career with 131 receptions for 1,665 yards over three years. He transferred to Florida State for the 2025 season, but injuries limited him to just five catches for 52 yards. Still, he made the All-ACC Academic Team.
To fill the roster spot, the Bears signed wide receiver Scotty Miller, linebacker Jon Rhattigan, and undrafted rookie wideout Kyron Hudson from Penn State.
White’s short tenure is not unique. Other college stars have retired soon after signing NFL contracts. Former Texas A&M running back Le’Veon Moss retired from the Miami Dolphins on May 12, just four days after signing as an undrafted free agent, citing injuries and a reluctance to commit to the NFL lifestyle. Michigan’s Trent Jones signed with the Green Bay Packers in 2024 but retired after his chronic back injury flared up during his first minicamp. Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch, drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2002, left training camp after being asked to switch from quarterback to wide receiver and suffering an old chest injury.
The NFL is a demanding business, and for some, walking away is the right call. The Bears are already moving forward.