New England Patriots running back James White says he is having trouble processing the sudden death of his father, but is finding comfort in celebrating his son's first birthday.
In an Instagram message Tuesday, the former Wisconsin Badgers star posted side by side photos of himself as a child sitting on the lap of his father, Tyrone, and another of White holding his 1-year-old son, Xzavier.
"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!" White wrote. "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."
Tyrone White, 59, was killed Sunday when the car occupied by he and his wife, Lisa, collided with another vehicle in Cooper City, Fla., authorities said. White, who was a captain in the Miami-Dade Police Department, was pronounced dead at the scene. Lisa White remains hospitalized.
James White found out about the crash prior to the Patriots' matchup at Seattle on Sunday night and was inactive for the game.
In the days since, his teammates and scores of players and coaches around the NFL have voiced condolences for White both publicly and on social media.
The list included Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, a teammate of White's at Wisconsin, who began his postgame interview after Seattle's win on Sunday by sending his well wishes.
"My heart's been heavy all day thinking about him," Wilson said. "This year's been a tough year as a whole and a lot of people that we know are impacted and people just going through so much. But James, I'm praying for you man."
