FOXBORO — By the time James White stepped off the podium, you could tell he was tired.

At this point, who could blame him?

During the Patriots 41-28 AFC Divisional Round win over the Los Angeles Chargers, White was targeted 17 times by Tom Brady. He hauled in 15 passes, which tied Darren Sproles’ NFL record for the most receptions in a playoff game. He also broke the Patriots record, which White previously owned with his 14- [...]

FOXBORO — By the time James White stepped off the podium, you could tell he was tired.

At this point, who could blame him?

During the Patriots 41-28 AFC Divisional Round win over the Los Angeles Chargers, White was targeted 17 times by Tom Brady. He hauled in 15 passes, which tied Darren Sproles’ NFL record for the most receptions in a playoff game. He also broke the Patriots record, which White previously owned with his 14-catch game in Super Bowl LI.

White’s the only player in NFL history to have two playoff games of 14-plus receptions. When reminded about what he accomplished, he laughed.

“You never imagine that. You like dream of stuff like that or what not,” White said. “For me, I just get out there, compete, things like that happen, it’s just a bonus.”

For the Patriots' third-down back, things just don’t happen. They always happen.

In 2018, White, 26, became the best receiving back in Patriots history. This season, he set two Patriots running backs records with 87 receptions and 751 receiving yards. White also hauled in seven receiving touchdowns, which tied the franchise record set by Larry Garron in 1964.

Since taking over as the head coach in 2000, Bill Belichick has made the receiving back a trademark of the New England Patriots. Between Kevin Faulk, Danny Woodhead and Shane Vereen, Tom Brady has always had a running back he could rely on when times get tough. Whether it’s for pass protection or much needed third-down conversion, this role has become vital to the Patriots success.

No one has been better than White – in Belichick’s time in Foxboro or in Patriots history. He’s the only back in team history to have two seasons of 60-plus receptions.

“It’s pretty crazy,” White said. “A lot of great guys went through this system and had a lot of success. It’s crazy to be in conversations like that.”

White’s performance this season opened up many eyes, impressing several former Patriots running backs along the way.

Kevin Faulk, running back (1999-2011)

Faulk revolutionized the Patriots third-down back position during his 13-year career in Foxboro.

Elected to the Patriots Hall-of-Fame in 2016, Faulk finished his career fifth in Patriots history in receptions (431) and receiving yards (3,701). The Louisiana native didn’t just have the skill set to succeed in the Patriots offense, but he was able to connect with Brady in a way that others couldn’t. He was dependable and consistent.

That’s exactly what he sees from White.

“Continued success. Consistency. Understanding,” Faulk said of White. “I was talking to Tom earlier and saying that. What people don’t understand what I was able to do what I did was because understood what Tom knew. I understood what he had to know. That really helped me out on the field and off the field.”

When Faulk retired, he owned the top seven marks for receptions from a running back in the Belichick era. Interestingly enough, his top two seasons – 2008 (58 receptions) and 2000 (51 receptions) – came at a time when Brady wasn’t starting.

There was a reason for that – more opportunity.

This season, White was able to put up historic numbers because the Patriots desperately needed him. Without Julian Edelman for the first four games, Brady needed another security blanket. With Rob Gronkowski taking a step back, Brady needed another playmaker.

In ’08, when Brady went down, Matt Cassel needed Faulk. That season, he set career-highs in receptions (58) and receiving yards (486)

“That was a time where guys had to step up because Tom wasn’t playing,” Faulk remembered. “Everybody had to play a different role that season so that was mine.”

When Faulk watched White this season, he couldn’t help but think what could’ve been had he seen 123 targets in a single season. Of course, he’s happy for the younger back.

“We all want to be targeted that many times, but with the guys we had and the situation was different,” Faulk said. “It was a different offense, different times than right now. We all want to be, but I’m proud of him. I told him, ‘you rose the level of that position up so much, man.’ I’m really, really happy for him and excited for him.”

Tony Collins, running back (1981-1987)

Prior to 2018, no running back in Patriots history had a better single season than Collins did in 1986.

Collins set two Patriots single-season records for a running back with 77 receptions and 684 receiving yards. Those records stood for 32 years until White broke both this past season.

“I’m still a Patriot fan. I was watching him,” Collins said. “He’s been doing a fantastic job. Today’s game is more of a passing game more than it was when we were playing, especially for New England. We weren’t a passing team back when I was playing. We were a running team. He’s doing an excellent job. It was time for it to be broken. It was like, what? 30-35 years ago.”

A second-round pick in 1981, Collins was always versatile, but he didn’t come to the Patriots to fill the passing back role. He was the team’s lead rusher during his rookie year. By 1983, he was a Pro Bowler after rushing for a career-high 1,049 yards and 10 touchdowns. Things changed when Craig James came to the Patriots in 1984.

By 1985, when the Patriots lost to Chicago in the Super Bowl, James was the lead back and Collins caught 52 passes for 549 yards. He instantly became one of Tony Eason's and Steve Grogan’s favorite targets.

“That year, Craig James came on and I was actually more of a blocking black for him even though I was actually the running back and he was the fullback,” Collins said. “One of the things was he wasn’t a great blocker and one of the things I prided myself in was doing everything – blocking, running and catching the ball. I played my role. It was a great year.”

Collins, who spent his post-NFL years as a motivational speaker, is now retired. When he’s not playing golf, he’s watching the Patriots. He loves what has become of the team's receiving back position.

“Today’s game is more of a passing game now more than it was back then with us,” Collins said. “We probably ran the ball 60-70 percent of the time. Now, it’s a reversal. Just love watching the Patriots play, man.”

Leroy Thompson, running back (1994)

In his sole year in New England, Thompson had one of the best seasons for a receiving back in Patriots history.

Led by Drew Bledsoe, the Patriots set NFL records for pass attempts in a season (691), pass completions and attempts in a game (45-for-70 in Week 11 vs. Minnesota) and most games with 50-plus passing attempts (five). Thompson had a career-high 65 receptions for 465 yards and five touchdowns. His 11 receptions in Week 11 that season tied the Patriots running back record.

“I’ll be honest with you, definitely clicked [with Bledsoe], but I caught a lot of balls to how James is catching his balls. I may not have been the first outlook going through the progressions, but I was always open,” Thompson said. “We had Ben Coates, Michael Timpson, Vincent Brisby, Kevin Turner… We had so many guys that I caught 65 balls that year by accident.”

As a back, Thompson’s 65 receptions were the second most in Patriots history behind Collins. Only two backs in Patriots history caught more receiving touchdowns.

After leading Pittsburgh in rushing in 1993, the Patriots traded a fourth-round pick for Thompson in 1994 to complement Marion Butts. The back, however, left the following offseason, signing with Kansas City in hopes to be a starting tailback.

“What I’ve learned now, looking back, had I been satisfied with that role and accepted it, I probably would’ve played another six-seven years because of the lack of wear and tear on your body,” Thompson said.

Thompson watched the Patriots closely this season. He was never surprised to see the receiving back role grow under Belichick and couldn’t be happier for White.

“It’s always been an important role,” he said. “When I came in, I didn’t want to leave necessarily because I knew how vital that position was to [Bill] Parcells and how many times you would touch the ball, be able to return it, run, catch the ball. It’s a fun role to play.

“James White is playing it as well as anybody I’ve seen in a long time.”