Bobby Mitchell facts for kids
Mitchell in 2010
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| No. 49 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Halfback / wide receiver | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | June 6, 1935 Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S. |
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| Died: | April 5, 2020 (aged 84) | ||||||||||||
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| High school: | Langston (Hot Springs, Arkansas) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Illinois | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1958 / Round: 7 / Pick: 84 | ||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Bobby Mitchell (born June 6, 1935 – died April 5, 2020) was a super talented American football player. He played as a halfback and wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Bobby played for the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Redskins.
He became a big star for the Redskins after joining them in 1962. This was a very important moment because the Redskins were the last NFL team to allow Black players. Bobby was chosen for the Pro Bowl four times. He was also honored by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Bobby Mitchell was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. When he was in high school, he was amazing at many sports! He played football, basketball, and track. He was even good enough at baseball to be offered a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.
College Career at Illinois
Instead of playing professional baseball, Bobby chose to go to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was a fantastic college football player for the Illinois Fighting Illini.
In his second year, he had an amazing game. The first time he touched the ball, he ran 64 yards for a touchdown! In that game, he gained 173 yards in just 10 tries. He also played as a defensive back that year. He set a record by averaging 8.6 yards every time he ran with the ball.
Bobby was also a very successful track athlete. In 1958, he set a world record in the 70-yard low hurdles. He helped Illinois win the Big Ten track championship. Bobby wasn't sure if he wanted to play football or try for the 1960 Summer Olympics in track. But the coach of the Cleveland Browns, Paul Brown, offered him $7,000 to play football. This convinced Bobby to choose football.
NFL Playing Career
Playing for the Cleveland Browns (1958–1961)
The Cleveland Browns picked Bobby Mitchell in the 1958 NFL Draft. He played as a halfback. He teamed up with another famous player, Jim Brown. Together, they formed one of the best running back duos in the NFL from 1958 to 1961.
As a new player, Bobby had a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. A year later, he ran for 232 yards in one game, including a 90-yard touchdown run. He also returned a punt 78 yards against the New York Giants. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl in 1960.
During his time with the Browns, Bobby ran for 2,297 yards. He also caught passes for 1,463 yards. He was great at returning kicks and punts too. He scored 38 touchdowns for the team.
Playing for the Washington Redskins (1962–1968)
In 1962, the Washington Redskins were under pressure from the U.S. government to allow Black players on their team. They traded for Bobby Mitchell from the Cleveland Browns. This made the Redskins the last professional football team to become integrated.
Bobby, along with John Nisby and Ron Hatcher, were the first three Black players on the 1962 Redskins team. Their new coach, Bill McPeak, decided Bobby would play as a flanker. In his very first game for Washington, Bobby returned a kickoff 92 yards.
That season, Bobby led the league with 72 catches and 1,384 receiving yards. He also scored 11 touchdowns. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl for three years in a row!
In 1963, Bobby caught 69 passes for 1,436 yards and seven touchdowns. He also made a 99-yard touchdown catch from George Izo. This was a huge play and only the second time in league history it had happened.
Bobby continued to be a top receiver for the Redskins. He caught at least 58 passes in each of his first six seasons with the team. When he retired, his total yards from running and catching the ball were the second-highest in NFL history. He had scored 91 touchdowns in his career.
In 2020, the Washington Redskins announced they would retire his jersey number, #49. He was only the second player in the team's history to have his number retired.
Front-Office Career (1969–2003)
After he stopped playing football in 1968, Bobby Mitchell stayed with the Redskins. The coach, Vince Lombardi, asked him to become a scout. He worked his way up in the team's management. He hoped to become the NFL's first Black general manager.
Bobby retired from his front-office role in 2003. He had spent 41 years with the Redskins as both a player and an executive.
Personal Life
Bobby Mitchell lived in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Gwen. They had two children, Robert Jr. and Terri.
Starting in 1980, Bobby hosted a special golf event called the Bobby Mitchell Hall of Fame Classic. This event raised money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which helps people with blood cancers.
Bobby was also involved in many other important organizations. These included the United Negro College Fund, the American Lung Association, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He also supported the National Urban League and the NAACP.
Bobby Mitchell passed away on April 5, 2020, at the age of 84.
Images for kids
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Mitchell in 2010
