A native of Abilene, Kansas, Whitehair attended Abilene High School, where he was a two-way lineman for the Cowboys football varsity. In his senior year, he was named to PrepStar magazine’s All-Midlands Region team after being credited with 140 pancake blocks and 81 total tackles (41 solo, 40 assisted) with 15 sacks on the season, as Abilene finished 10–1 after losing to Buhler in the second round of the KSHSAA 4A state playoffs.
College career
After redshirting his first year at Kansas State in 2011, Whitehair became a starter at guard in 2012 and 2013. Prior to his junior year in 2014, he moved to offensive tackle, where he started as a junior and senior.[1][2][3][4]
In 2018, Whitehair played every offensive snap and was named to the 2019 Pro Bowl, becoming the first Bears center since Olin Kreutz to play in the Pro Bowl.[9][10] He was the only Bears player on either side of the ball to participate in every down.
Before the 2019 season, Whitehair moved to left guard, while that position's starter, James Daniels, shifted to center.[11] On September 1, Whitehair signed a five-year contract extension worth $52.5 million with $27.5 million guaranteed.[12] In November, with the offense struggling amid a four-game losing streak, Whitehair returned to center.[13]
Whitehair was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 6, 2020,[14] and activated on November 16.[15]
In 2022, Whitehair suffered a knee injury in Week 4 and was placed on injured reserve on October 5, 2022.[16] He was activated on November 4.
Whitehair was released from the Chicago Bears on February 15, 2024.[17]
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