As part of the Steelers’ shake-up in replacing general manager Kevin Colbert, they have a couple new executives in their front office. Working under Colbert’s successor Omar Khan and assistant general manager Andy Weidl, another outside hire, Sheldon White’s title will be director of pro scouting.
In an NFL career that dates back to 1988, White has worn plenty of other hats and been called “player,” “scout,” “director of pro personnel,” “vice president of pro personnel” and even “interim general manager” in 2015 with Detroit. But for Cody White, a Steelers wide receiver fighting to make the roster again this year, he’s always been “dad.”
“It’s definitely crazy, but it’s always great to have family and somebody that you know in the office always,” Cody said Tuesday of the team officially hiring his father last week. “He was with the Lions for a long time, so for him to be able to come here and get that position is big for him. I’m excited for him.”
Indeed, it’s a major promotion for White, who was a scout last year for Washington. He’ll fill the same role that Brandon Hunt had in Pittsburgh.
But before last season, White built a lengthy resume. He got his post-playing start with the Lions in 1997, when Colbert was the team’s pro scouting director. He also played defensive back three years in Detroit from 1990-92 when Colbert was there.
After working through multiple Lions regimes as he rose through the front office, White stepped away from the NFL when Detroit cleaned house in 2016. Around the same time Cody committed to Michigan State, the Spartans hired Sheldon and eventually made him their executive director of player personnel and recruiting.
“Him just being with me and showing me the ropes, showing me the way — he’s been in it for a long time, so for me to be at this level now, for him to be with me is like a dream come true,” said Cody, who played in 15 games last season for the Steelers despite going undrafted in 2020.
He added that it never crossed his mind when he turned pro that some day his dad might be back in the NFL and potentially making a decision on his future. Of course, if it were going to happen in any organization, it would probably be the football-is-family Steelers, Cody said with a smile.
“I’m with Cody, but Cody needs to grow up on his own, as well,” Sheldon told the Detroit Free Press in 2017 of their time together at Michigan State. “I’m here, but I’m kind of here in the shadows, I’m in the background. He’s going to grow into a man and develop on his own.”
The younger White had five catches for 33 yards last year, seeing most of his snaps on special teams. With the Steelers drafting two receivers and signing a couple veterans, it won’t be easy for Cody to reprise his role — and he doesn’t expect any conflict of interest when it comes time for tough decisions to be made above his pay grade. In fact, he claims he found out the same way everyone else did that his dad would be joining him because Sheldon “wasn’t allowed to tell anybody.”
“It’s definitely not awkward,” Cody said. “He knows he has a job to do. I know I have a job to do at the same time. We’re family, but we know it’s the NFL.”
Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.
First Published: May 31, 2022, 7:46 p.m.