Tre’Davious White, the 30-year-old cornerback, returned to action for the Buffalo Bills. He recently signed and then finished up a short contract with the Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens during the 2024 season. His re-signing is a major coup for the player and the new franchise. It’s a symbolic journey that goes full circle, returning him back to where his professional career began. White was picked 27th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. That made him the first draft pick of head coach Sean McDermott.
White’s return to Buffalo also follows a severely injury-plagued stretch. It was a surprise to many when he ruptured his left ACL on Thanksgiving Day in 2021. This debilitating injury caused him to miss nearly the entire season. He returned to action in 2022, appearing in six regular-season games and two postseason contests. An Achilles tear four games into the 2023 season knocked him out again. Though faced with these adversities, White’s commitment to his art and to his crew has always been steadfast.
The cornerback has always been a fan favorite in Buffalo, noted not only for his on-field performance but for his leadership qualities. He missed only three games throughout his entire professional career prior to his injuries, showcasing his reliability and commitment to the game.
In a show of loyalty, White communicated to his agent that he wanted to be contacted only if there was news originating from Buffalo. This decision cements his determination to return to the team that drafted him. He’s spent nearly his entire career there, serving from 2017-2023. His notable achievements over this period have been being named a first-team All-Pro in 2019.
White to be thankful for, too—grateful to rejoin the team, he said. He shared what he’s learned about how much he’s changed as a player during his time away.
“I feel like coming back as a better player, it’s so many different ways than just on the field,” – Tre’Davious White
His time with the other teams on the circuit have provided him with some great perspectives. He’s looking forward to passing along these lessons to his younger teammates.
“I feel like I can give my teammates more knowledge, just younger guys too. And just me, myself it brings a more gratefulness and just like appreciation for the game and for the people that I do it with because these guys here are just like genuine friends and genuine brothers,” – Tre’Davious White
White’s past experience with the team’s terminology and defensive schemes will hopefully allow for a seamless transition back into the lineup. He explained since he left, some techniques have evolved, and it’s a lot of the same verbiage used today.
“Terminology was easy to get back in, because the verbiage is still the same,” – Tre’Davious White
Now, Brandon Beane, the Bills’ General Manager, wants to make one big point about how far White’s come in his absence from Buffalo.
“Felt like, if you watch his film, [White has] really improved from the start of the year with the Rams to how he played down the stretch,” – Brandon Beane
Teammate Damar Hamlin expressed his excitement about White’s return to the field due to the vibe and energy he adds to the locker room.
“He brings a different temperature to Buffalo,” – Damar Hamlin
In a light-hearted manner, hamlin pushed White to ensure he had shaken off any vacation rust. He said there should be a major focus on getting people back into team workflows.
“I’ve been telling him all week. He took a little vacation, and I told him, he just thinks he’s still on vacation, but you got to fake it ’til you make it,” – Damar Hamlin
The Bills’ personnel department feels as though White’s veteran hand will help solidify their CB room. Beyond the obvious aesthetic appeal, they expect it to enhance team morale as the team prepares for a championship season.
As White looks back on his time, he knows now just how hard it was to leave Buffalo the first time.
“So, that was the thing that hurt me the most ’cause I felt like, if it wasn’t that way, that I’d still be a Buffalo Bill going into Year 9 with one hat under my name, and that’s something that I always wanted,” – Tre’Davious White
His journey was not just a path to recovery, but personal growth and reinvigorated love for the game. For White, returning to Buffalo is like going home, a feeling shared by fans and teammates as well.
Bills GM Brandon Beane is over the moon about Tre’Davious White’s return. They think it will help to feather the nest of their defense and inject essential leadership into a key position. Now, as he prepares to run out on the field again in his blue and red uniform, it is palpable. Fans are excited to see what this crowd favorite will pull off next!
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