White, the controversial but sublimely talented defensive end who retired last season, was honored by the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night with a jersey retirement ceremony at halftime of the Packers' game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lambeau Field.

White is the fifth player to have his jersey retired by the Packers, and the first since 1983. He joins Don Hutson, Tony Canadeo, Bart Starr and Ray Nitschke.

Packers GM Ron Wolf introduced White by simply saying, "Reggie White, legend."

White wept openly as his framed jersey was unveiled to chants of "Reg-gie!"

"I have been privileged to be a part of this," White said. "I will always be a Green Bay Packer."

Green Bay mayor Paul Jadin renamed his city "White Bay" for 24 hours, and Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson declared Reggie White Day in the state.

Before the game, White ran to the center of the field to the raucous cheers of the sellout crowd. He also participated in the pregame coin toss with the Packers' captains.

White was elected to the Pro bowl a record 13 straight times from 1986-98. He was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 1987 and 1998, and he is football's career sacks leader with 192.5.

He joined the Packers as an unrestricted free agent in 1993, automatically endearing himself to the legions of Packers fans who thought their small-town team couldn't get big-name talent. White is the Packers' career sacks leader with 68.5, and he played a large role in leading Green Bay to its Super Bowl win in January 1997.

Though he came to fame as the pre-eminent defensive lineman of his era, White was just as notorious for several years of statements which were widely viewed as sexist, homophobic and racist. White is an ordained minister who has publicly opposed gay marriage and women reporters in the locker room.

White had stirred a minor controversy earlier in the week when he said he would have preferred to be honored on Nov. 1, when former Packers coach Mike Holmgren brings his Seattle Seahawks to Lambeau Field for a Monday night game.

White also said the NFL tends to honor black stars less flamboyantly than white players like John Elway, whose retirement ceremony was held by the Broncos earlier this season. White later backed away from that remark.