The NFL announced that Bucs inside linebacker Devin White was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 10. White helped key the Bucs to a 21-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Munich, Germany on Sunday. It’s the third time in his career that White has won NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. White was also named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month in September.

White led Tampa Bay with nine tackles, two sacks and a key forced fumble. He also had three quarterback hits in the game and is now second on the Bucs with five sacks. Sunday’s game was the sixth multi-sack performance of his career and White was the only NFC player with multiple sacks and a forced fumble in Week 10. His three quarterback hits were the most by any NFC linebacker.

Bucs ILB Devin White and Seahawks QB Geno Smith – Photo by: USA Today

Through the first 10 weeks of the 2022 NFL season, White is the only player with 75-plus tackles and five-plus sacks. His five sacks this season give him 20 for his NFL career – the most among inside linebackers since he was drafted by the Bucs in the first round in 2019. Dating back to at least 2000, White is one of just two players with 400-plus tackles and 20-plus sacks through their first four career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher.

Bucs LB White Stars For Improving Defense

White serves as a captain for a Bucs defense that ranks first in the NFL in tackles for loss (57), tied for second in sacks (32.0), third in fewest points allowed per game (18.0), third in fewest first downs allowed per game (17.4), fifth in total defense (310.0 yards per game), fifth in passing defense (193.4 yards per game) and tied for sixth in quarterback hits (60).

Since entering the league in 2019, White is the only inside linebacker to have won a Defensive Player of the Week award at least three times during that span. In addition to his three weekly awards, White has garnered a Pro Bowl selection (2021), an NFC Defensive Player of the Month award (September, 2022) and two Defensive Rookie of the Month Awards (November and December, 2019).

White played with a heavy heart in Germany as he suddenly lost his father on Thursday before boarding the team bus.