There weren’t many words, but they said a lot.
In his first public statement since his father’s death in a car crash that left his mother in critical condition, Patriots running back James White posted to Instagram on Tuesday.
White’s post was celebrating his youngest son’s birthday.
“Happy 1st birthday Xzavier! I hope I can be as good of a father to you as my father was to my brother and I!,” the post reads. “I still can’t quite process everything that’s going on right now, but when I look at you, you give me life!
“May you Rest in Peace Dad, we miss you much already.”
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington both opened their Tuesday press conferences expressing condolences to the White family.
“We’ll be praying for him and his mother, the entire White family,” McDaniels said. “We’ll offer them any and all support we can as he goes through this situation.”
“Just know that us, the coaching staff players, New England family,” Covington said, “we’re with him and the White family.”
White’s father Tyrone, 59, was a captain in the Miami-Dade Police Department. Tyrone was driving with his wife Lisa Sunday around 1 p.m. when their car was struck by another vehicle.
White was told the news before Sunday night’s game against Seattle. NBC reported Patriots owner Robert Kraft offered to fly White immediately to Miami, but White declined and chose to fly home with the team. He was inactive for the game but did not stay at the stadium, per NBC.
On the opening drive of the game, New England’s Devin McCourty picked off Seattle’s Russell Wilson and scored for a 43-yard interception return. After crossing through the end zone, McCourty ran in front of an end zone camera and yelled “2-8, we love you bro” as a shoutout to White.
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