He planned to return home to Tuttle, Okla., by Thursday night and plans to pursue jobs as a football coach next week.
"Sometimes I think that you have to swallow your pride a little bit and know when you're done," he said.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops found out about White's retirement following the Sooners' morning practice Thursday.
"Jason knows what's best for him," Stoops said. "If that's what he has to do, he's had an incredible career here."
After his second knee surgery, White had to take days off between practices. But before last season, he was back to working out every day without problems. He then made it through the entire season without injury problems.
Stoops thinks White, who has a degree in sociology, will be a great coach.
"I'm sure possibly all the extra work probably could be bothersome to him healthwise, and he just decided he wants to move on," Stoops said. "Good for him. He'll have a successful career in whatever he does."
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