Cowboys Quarterback Danny White Retires

Danny White, who spent 14 years in the NFL and was the Dallas Cowboys’ starting quarterback for most of the 1980s, is retiring from the team today, a Cowboys spokesman said.

White scheduled an afternoon news conference to make the announcement, said Cowboys spokesman Dave Pelletier.

White joined Dallas in 1976 and became the team’s starter after Roger Staubach retired in 1980. He led the team to the NFC East Division title in 1985 and led the league in touchdown percentage in 1986. With White as a starter, the Cowboys were 67-35.

White was plagued by injuries during the last three seasons, starting six games in 1986, nine in 1987 and none in 1988.

Supplemental Draft Pick

White’s retirement comes five days after the team supplemented its quarterback corps by taking the University of Miami’s Steve Walsh in the NFL supplemental draft.

The Cowboys drafted UCLA’s Troy Aikman with the first pick of the regular draft and signed him to a six-year, $11-million contract.

“If they don’t like me, it really doesn’t matter,” White said after Walsh was drafted. “I can’t worry about the others. I made up my mind three months ago that nothing would surprise me.”

But White worked out with the team’s quarterbacks during a mini-camp the last two days.

Five quarterbacks were attending the camp.

Steve Pelluer, last year’s starter, is the only veteran still unsigned for the 1989 season and was not at the camp. He has asked to be traded.

White, 37, was drafted by Dallas in the third round of the 1974 draft. But he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies of the now-defunct WFL and played there until 1976, when he returned to the Cowboys.

He set seven NCAA passing records at Arizona State. He played infield for the Sun Devil baseball team and was drafted by four major league teams.