Brian Mitchell (running back)
Plaquemine (Plaquemine, Louisiana) | |||||||||||||||||
| College: | Southwestern Louisiana (1986–1989) | ||||||||||||||||
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| NFL draft: | 1990 / Round: 5 / Pick: 130 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||||||||||||
Brian Keith Mitchell (born August 18, 1968) is an American former
Mitchell also played for the
As of February 2021, Mitchell began co-hosting the radio show "BMitch and Finlay" on
Early life and College career
Mitchell was the son of a career
Mitchell attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette), where he played quarterback.
At Southwestern Louisiana, Mitchell became the first player in
Professional career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle |
Vertical jump | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 10+1⁄8 in (1.78 m) |
198 lb (90 kg) |
29+3⁄8 in (0.75 m) |
10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) |
4.59 s | 1.63 s | 2.79 s | 4.01 s | 32.0 in (0.81 m) | ||||
| All values from NFL Combine[3] | ||||||||||||
Mitchell was
Washington Redskins
As a
During his second season with the Redskins in 1991, Mitchell led the NFL in punt return yards (600) and punt return touchdowns (two), helping his team to an appearance in Super Bowl XXVI, where Washington defeated the Buffalo Bills 37–24.
Mitchell continued to play for the Redskins until 1999, leading the NFL in punt return average (14.1) and touchdowns (two) in 1994, and making a Pro Bowl selection in 1995. He also led the league in combined yards every season from 1994 through 1996, and again in 1998. He is one of only two players to lead the league in that statistical category at least four times. The other is Hall of Famer Jim Brown, who did it five times.[2]
Mitchell was released following the 1999 season with the arrival of a new owner, Daniel Snyder.
Later career
Mitchell signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2000, and played for them until 2002. Despite only playing with the team for 3 years, Mitchell left as the franchise's all-time leader in punt return yards, and retains this record to this day.[5]
In 2002, Mitchell was one of only two players to be ranked in the top seven in both kickoff returns and punt returns (the other being Michael Lewis of the New Orleans Saints). He was the only player in the NFC to be ranked in the top three in both categories. Mitchell was second in the NFC and third in the NFL with a career-high 27.0-yard average on 43 kickoff returns.[2] Mitchell was also third in the NFC and seventh in the NFL with a 12.3-yard punt return average on 46 punts. He returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers on November 25. It was Mitchell's 13th career kick returned for a touchdown, breaking a tie with Eric Metcalf and ranking Mitchell first in the record book. That week, he also set a record for kick return yards in a single game with 206 yards on six kick returns.[2]
He then signed with the New York Giants for the 2003 season.[2] He was released before the 2004 season. He then re-signed to a one-day contract with the Washington Redskins, allowing him to retire a Redskin.
Legacy
 | Parts of this article (those related to HOF results) need to be updated. (December 2023) |
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (January 2023) |
Mitchell is the NFL's second all-time leader in total yardage, second only to Jerry Rice with 23,330 yards, thanks in large part to his 14,014 yards from kickoff returns and his 4,999 punt return yards. Both are NFL records, and his 875 postseason kickoff return yards are a record as well. He also rushed for 1,967 yards on 388 carries (avg. 5.1 rushing yards), caught 255 passes for 2,336 yards, recovered 20 fumbles for 14 return yards, and scored 29 touchdowns (four kickoff returns, nine punt returns, 12 rushing, and four receiving). His 13 special teams touchdowns rank second in the NFL only behind Devin Hester. His nine punt return touchdowns rank third behind Hester (11) and Eric Metcalf (10).
Brian Mitchell also holds the NFL record for most combined yards by any one player against a single opponent: 3,076 all-purpose yards against the Dallas Cowboys. He also holds the record for most all-purpose yards in a single decade.[6]
He is also one of only five players to record four seasons of over 2,000 total yards, (the others being Marshall Faulk, Dante Hall, Darren Sproles, and Tiki Barber) and missed out on a fifth by only five yards.[citation needed]
He was inducted into the
On September 14, 2016, Brian Mitchell was nominated for the 2017 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but he was not selected as a finalist. On September 22, 2021, he was nominated for the 2022 class.
NFL records
| This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (January 2023) |
- Combined kickoff and punt return yards: 19,013
- Combined kickoff and punt returns: 1,070
- Kickoff return yards: 14,014
- Kickoff returns: 607
- Punt return yards: 4,999
- Punt returns: 463
- Fair catches: 231
Life after football
On television
Since retiring, Mitchell has been a TV and radio host and analyst for a variety of outlets. On TV, he is currently the NFL analyst for
On radio
On radio, Mitchell was the host of The Brian Mitchell Show on
In February 2021,
Personal life
Mitchell has four children with his wife Monica.[2] He founded the Brian Mitchell Foundation in 2001 to help disadvantaged children in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and his hometown of Plaquemine, Louisiana.[2]
References
- ^ "Why Brian Mitchell Is the Best Return Specialist in NFL History". bleacherreport.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g Eisen, Michael (March 3, 2003). "Giants Sign Return Specialist Brian Mitchell". Giants.com. Retrieved November 23, 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Brian Mitchell, Combine Results, RB - Southwestern Louisiana". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
- ^ "1990 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ "Philadelphia Eagles Career Kick & Punt Returns Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Washington football legend Brian Mitchell deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame | Hear Me Out". August 19, 2021.
- ^ Heim, David (February 4, 2021). "ENTERCOM ANNOUNCES NEW MIDDAY SHOW FOR 106.7 The FAN IN WASHINGTON D.C." Audacy.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ Allen, Scott (February 4, 2021). "Brian Mitchell and JP Finlay will co-host show as part of new lineups at 106.7 the Fan, Team 980". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
External links
- Brian Mitchell Foundation
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · ESPN · Pro Football Reference