James White is hanging up his cleats ... the New England Patriots running back announced Thursday he's retiring from the NFL after 8 seasons in the league.
White -- aka "Sweet Feet" -- shared the announcement on social media ... in a heartfelt post where he addressed the Pats organization.
"It has been an honor to represent my family, my teammates, and the people of New England as a Patriot!" said White.
"Reflecting on my nine years in the NFL, and all the sacrifices it took to get here, there are many people that were just as much part of this journey.