A Stellar Career Ends Quietly

SAN FRANCISCO — He never saw the final play of his career, sprawled across a flattened Kirk Scrafford, the 49er right tackle.

But Reggie White heard the roar of the crowd, and experience advises him that the 49ers had scored, had beaten his Packers in the final seconds and that his grand career was over.

He stood and walked to the Packer sideline. No one it seemed aware that he had made his final NFL appearance. He moved to the team’s bench, sitting alone, his helmet rolling by his feet as the 49ers kicked off.

White looked up at the giant TV screen on the scoreboard, watching the Packers return the ball and then jumped to his feet as Roell Preston broke free for a heart-pounding second, a potential miracle to keep White’s career alive.

But then he was stopped, the game ended and it was over.

“I’m at peace,” said White, a first-round choice of the Eagles in 1984 who initially played for the United States Football League’s Memphis Showboats before joining Philadelphia in the fourth week of the 1985 season. “It’s time for me to do the work of God’s calling. I’m looking forward to it. God told me that this was to be my last year.”

White, who turned around the fortunes of the Packers six years ago after signing as a free agent, had retired before this season only to return after he said God had spoken to him and asked that he play again.

But there will be no turning back now, he said.

“God has another calling for me,” said White, who finished his career with an NFL-record 192 1/2 sacks.

*

The 49ers signed Charles Haley, who retired from the Cowboys two years ago, Saturday and on the strength of one 30-minute practice put him to work against the Packers.

And while he made no big plays, his pressure on Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre resulted in an interception.

The 49ers paid him $10,000 to make an appearance against Green Bay.

*

Running back Garrison Hearst, who missed practice all week because of a sore hamstring, ran 22 times for 128 yards and then limped off the field clutching his hamstring.

Hearst will have one less day to heal this week, and the team has already listed him as questionable for Saturday’s game in Atlanta.