Drafted in the third round of the 1974 NFL Draft out of Arizona State, Danny White found himself in a unique logjam. With Roger Staubach firmly entrenched under center in Dallas, White chose to start his professional career in the upstart World Football League, taking snaps for the Memphis Southmen to gain valuable quarterback reps. Following the WFL's collapse, White signed with the Cowboys in 1976. For four years, he embraced a grueling dual role: serving as Tom Landry's trusted holding specialist and primary punter while operating as Staubach's designated heir apparent.

When Staubach hung up his cleats after the 1979 season, White stepped out of the shadow of a franchise icon and immediately validated Landry's trust. Taking over under center in 1980, White delivered a sterling debut campaign, throwing for 3,287 yards and 28 touchdowns to lead Dallas to a 12–4 record. What followed was one of the most remarkable individual runs in modern NFL history: White continued to pull double duty as both starting quarterback and starting punter through the 1984 season, famously becoming the only player in league history to pass for over 3,000 yards and punt for over 3,000 yards in the same season (1981).

White's tenure as a QB1 was characterized by notable statistical efficiency and an unwavering record of victories. He led the Dallas Cowboys to three consecutive NFC Championship Games from 1980 to 1982, securing his sole career Pro Bowl selection during the strike-shortened 1982 season when he led the NFC with 16 touchdown passes. Equipped with a rapid release and precision in long throws, White consistently ranked among the league leaders in passer rating and yards per attempt, demonstrating his arm talent to compete effectively with any quarterback in the conference.

Despite holding a commanding 62–30 regular-season record as a starting quarterback, White faced brutal scrutiny from a fanbase spoiled by Staubach's Super Bowl rings. That pressure peaked in 1984 when Landry briefly benched him in favor of Gary Hogeboom. White quietly reclaimed the starting job through superior preparation, bouncing back in 1985 to lead Dallas to another division title. Injuries—most notably a broken wrist suffered in 1986—eventually slowed his career before his retirement following the 1988 season.

In his thirteen seasons, White amassed 21,959 passing yards, 155 touchdown passes, and 132 interceptions alongside a 62–30 record as a starter. As a punter, he added 610 career punts for 24,509 yards (40.2 average).