When Cody White found out he was going to make the Seahawks' 53-man roster to start the season, his first call was to his mother, Amy, and the two shared a cry while celebrating the accomplishment.
"I called my mom first," White said. "I called my mom right when I figured it out, we were both just crying on the phone, it was cool. It was a good moment."
For every early-round pick or star with big-money contracts, there are dozens more players like White in the NFL, late-round picks and undrafted players who head into every training camp unsure if they'll have a job come September.
Undrafted out of Michigan State in 2020, White briefly spent time with the Chiefs, Giants and Broncos before ending up on Pittsburgh's practice squad. The following season, he opened the year on Pittsburgh's practice squad before earning a promotion to the roster, playing 15 games, primarily on special teams. White played in just one game for the Steelers in 2022, then in 2023 he joined the Seahawks practice squad but did not appear in a game. Last season, White impressed enough in practice to earn an elevation from the practice squad, and against the Rams he blocked a punt and also had a 28-yard reception, and finished the season on the 53-man roster.
This year, finally, after five seasons of being cut before Week 1, White used another strong training camp to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
"I'm not going to lie, that was pretty special," White said. "Six years, for this to be my first year making out of training camp—I've played in a lot of games, I've done a lot of things—but for that to be an achievement that I wanted to get, that was pretty special."
As he has done just about every time he has been given an opportunity, White found a way to stand out, this time as a kick returner, gaining 36 yards on a return to give the offense good field position.
And now, White will enjoy another special moment when he heads back to Pittsburgh, where he will not only play against the organization that employed him for the first three seasons of his career, but that also employs his father, Sheldon, who is the Steelers' director of pro scouting.
"I started my career there, learning all I could from Coach T (Mike Tomlin) and all the guys over there. Shoot, I love Pittsburgh as an organization, started my career there, and now I get to go back there and play against them. My pops is still there, a lot of my family will be there for the game, so it'll be a good experience."
While it would usually be a normal occurrence for Cody and Sheldon White to hop on the phone and talk football, Cody said the two haven't talked since the start of the season.
"I haven't talked to him in like two weeks," White said with a laugh. "I told him, 'Once the season starts, I'm not talking to you until Week 3.
White stepping up when given an opportunity is exactly what Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald wants from his team. Whether it's a player like safety Coby Bryant, who started last year as a backup and finished as a starter and a defensive standout, or cornerback Josh Jobe, who started last year on the practice squad and finished it as the team's No. 3 cornerback, essentially a starting role, Macdonald has preached competition, then backed it up with his lineup decision.
"When we say 70-man team, we mean that," White said. "Everybody on our team has an opportunity to prove that they can play in practice, and then get the opportunities in the game. It's really what you do with your opportunities, so whatever you did in practice, continue that in the game. When you get your opportunity, make the most of it."
Asked about White, Macdonald said, "We saw it in the Rams game last year. There's definitely a record of this throughout the offseasons, and he's another guy that's earned his opportunity. It's a great lesson for young guys how important special teams are to the equation. At the end of the day, you can't dress everybody, and he's earned that right to be a special teams stalwart for us and when asked upon on offense, he's produced."
Macdonald also loves talking about the example of Jobe, who was forced into action in part due to injury midway through the season, then took over a key role on defense and never let it go, both during the 2024 season and this year in training camp. Jobe again played well last week, including a fourth-quarter interception, and Macdonald acknowledged that he could be pushing for an even bigger role moving forward.
"I love telling the story because this time last year, he wasn't playing for us," Macdonald said. "This is a guy that has come in and really bought into the process, and the details matter for him, and he does it every day. There's a consistency there that you respect, and he's earned these opportunities, which is really cool. If you were the coach of the team, wouldn't you want it to work like that? Guys coming in, earning their opportunities, developing, growing as players, as people, that's what he's done."
Yet another player who has used his practice opportunities, as well as his special teams play, to earn more playing time is linebacker Drake Thomas, who rotated in at linebacker last week, playing 15 defensive snaps, one of which saw him put pressure on Brock Purdy to rush a throw that was intercepted by Ernest Jones IV.
"He had a great training camp and when put in those positions in preseason games he produced, and I thought he did that on Sunday," Macdonald said. "We're going to have competition on our team. If you start saying this guy's the guy, you don't want to operate like that, then you fall into the trap that you've made it. I'm not saying our guys think that, but we want the sense of urgency that we're competing all the time. I'm looking at Leo (Leonard Williams) right here, I'm putting him up against anybody else in the league, but he still knows when it's time to rush he has to produce because we got guys that want opportunities too. It's the same thing with the defensive line. It's the same thing with our offensive line. Same thing at linebacker. We're seeing the same thing right now with Riq (Woolen). It's great, our guys are getting better. That just tells you, we have multiple people that have earned rights to play. That's good for us, people are going to get better from the competition."
The Seahawks returned to the practice field on Wednesday, September 10 as they prepare for the upcoming Week 2 matchup at the Steelers.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Brandon Pili (95) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Quinton Bohanna (92) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle J.R. Singleton (70) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Derion Kendrick (1) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles (34) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald at practice on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Derion Kendrick (1) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Courtney Jackson (84) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde at practice on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin (24) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sheriff (50) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Derion Kendrick (1) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jacardia Wright (31) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin (24), cornerback Riq Woolen (27) and cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh at practice on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Damien Martinez (22) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts (40) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jacardia Wright (31) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts (40) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Eric Saubert (81) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyrone Broden (85) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyrone Broden (85) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Courtney Jackson (84) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sheriff (50) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32) practiced on September 10, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
