Selected second overall in the 1975 NFL Draft from Maryland—where he was awarded the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award, and ACC Player of the Year honors as a distinguished college athlete—Randy White joined Dallas as a highly valued defensive prospect. Following two transitional seasons playing at linebacker, White was repositioned to right defensive tackle in 1977, a move that unlocked his full potential and initiated a legendary career, earning him the nickname "The Manster" (a combination of man and monster).

White established a new standard for interior defensive line performance. Demonstrating exceptional strength in the weight room, explosive initial speed, and a hand technique infused with martial arts, he consistently outpaced interior offensive linemen before they could establish their blocks. White was a persistent and relentless player who transformed quickness into power, forcefully disengaging from double-teams to collapse pockets, disrupt rushing plays, and pursue ball carriers from behind.

What distinguished White from nearly all defensive tackles of his era was his pioneering collaboration with renowned martial artist Dan Inosanto, integrating hand-fighting and strike-redirection techniques into his pass-rush repertoire. While conventional defensive tackles depended on sheer bulk, White employed rapid hand strikes, swim moves, and rip-swipes to deflect guards' hands before they could execute punches.

His low-center-of-gravity anchor enabled him to resist double-teams during running plays, while his relentless pursuit effort ensured that plays were never finished. Whether positioning himself directly over the center in Tom Landry's "Flex" defense or executing stunt rushes alongside the defensive end, White consistently maintained the opposing interior offensive lines in a continuous state of challenge throughout all four quarters.

In 1977, White's shift to right defensive tackle sparked an immediate breakout, taking over from Bob Lilly and anchoring Dallas' "Doomsday II" defense. This led to his first Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro selections. He reached the peak of his career in Super Bowl XII, dominating the Denver Broncos' offense in a 27–10 win. White recorded a sack and helped lead a defense that forced eight turnovers, sharing Super Bowl XII Co-MVP honors with teammate Harvey Martin—the only time in NFL history two players shared the award.

Building on his Super Bowl breakout, White embarked on a dominant six-year period, cementing his status as the top interior lineman in professional football. In 1978, he achieved a career-high 16.0 unofficial sacks and helped Dallas return to Super Bowl XIII. The following year, he recorded 10.0 sacks and earned another First-Team All-Pro honor, leading a defensive line that secured three straight NFC East titles.

When sacks officially became a stat in 1982, White did not slow down; he logged 6.0 sacks in an abbreviated nine-game strike season to earn his fourth First-Team All-Pro honor. In 1983, he delivered a statistical masterclass, racking up 12.5 official sacks and forcing three fumbles across 16 starts. Opposing coordinators routinely slid double-team help his way, yet White continually blew up backfields, recording double-digit sacks in three different seasons while disrupting both passing windows and running lanes.

White maintained his dominance into the mid-1980s, achieving his sixth and seventh First-Team All-Pro honors in 1984 with 12.0 sacks and in 1985 with 10.5 sacks. His tenth straight Pro Bowl appearance in 1986 cemented a ten-year run of top-tier performance rare among interior defenders.

Although sacks did not become an official NFL statistic until 1982, film reviews and team records credit White with 111.0 career sacks over his tenure—making him one of the most prolific interior pass rushers in league history.

In 1994, White received a double crown of football immortality: he was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor and elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The NFL also named him to the 1980s All-Decade Team.