Bobby Mitchell Cleveland Browns & Washington Redskins

"The defense man, he’s at a disadvantage. If he tries to cover me man to man, that is unheard of...I’m not a cocky individual. I’m confident, but you have to go out there confident. If you come hesitating, that defenseman, he has you in his back pocket.”

Bobby Mitchell was blessed with exceptional speed, uncanny faking ability and balance. They were assets that served the versatile wide receiver/halfback well during his 11-year National Football League career that began in 1958 as a seventh-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns.

The fact that Mitchell lasted until the seventh round was somewhat of a mystery, but certainly a stroke of luck for the Browns. Mitchell, who had hoped to play flanker in the pros, was teamed with the incomparable Jim Brown to give the Browns one of history's truly great running back combinations from 1958 through 1961.

He also was a breakaway threat as a punt- and kickoff-return specialist. After four productive seasons with the Browns, Bobby was traded to the Washington Redskins where he played with distinction for seven more seasons.

With his trade to Washington, Bobby became the first African American to sign and star for the Redskins. In Washington, the 6-0, 192-pound Mitchell was for the most part a full-time flanker who gained the reputation as one of the finest catch-run yardage makers in the game.

It is little wonder NFL defenders shuddered whenever Bobby got the ball. He was a potential time bomb who almost always went off. When Mitchell retired, his 14,078 combined net yards was the second highest total in NFL history. He had also scored an amazing 91 touchdowns. Eighteen of his touchdowns came by rushing, 65 on receptions, 3 on punt returns, and 5 on kickoff returns. He amassed 7,954 yards on receptions and 2,735 yards on rushes.

He won the NFL receiving title in 1962 with 72 catches. During his first six seasons with the Redskins he never caught fewer than 58 passes. Four times, once as a running back and three times as a wide receiver, he was selected to play in the Pro Bowl.

Bobby Mitchell's Stats

Bobby Mitchell's Championship Games

Mitchell never played in a conference or league championship game during his career.

Bobby Mitchell's Career Highlights

All-NFL: 1962 (AP, UPI, NEA), 1963 (NEA), 1964 (UPI)

All-NFL Second Team: 1959 (NY), 1960 (UPI, NEA), 1963 (UPI, NY), 1964 (AP, NEA, NY)

All-Conference: 1962 (SN), 1963 (SN)

(4) – 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965

(at time of his retirement following 1968 season)
 

• [1st] Highest Combined Average Gain Combined Net Yards, Career – 11.62
• [Tied for 1st] Longest Pass Reception, Game – 99 (vs. Cleveland, Sept. 15, 1963)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns, Combined Kickoffs, Game – 2 (vs. Philadelphia, Nov. 23, 1958)
• [2nd] Most Pass Receptions, Career – 521
• [2nd] Most Yards Gained Receiving, Season – 1,436 (1963)
• [2nd] Most Combined Net Yards, Career – 14,078
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Yards Gained Rushing, Game – 232 (vs. Washington, Nov. 15, 1959)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns, Kickoff Returns, Career – 5
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns, Combined Kick and Punt Returns, Career – 8
• [3rd] Highest Average Gain, Rushing, Game – 16.6 (vs. Washington, Nov. 15, 1959 – 14-232)
• [3rd] Most Yards Gained Receiving, Season – 1,384 (1962)

Browns’ records held by Mitchell
(Records through the 1961 season, Mitchell’s final season with Cleveland)

• [1st] Longest Rush – 90 (vs. Washington, Nov. 15, 1959)

Redskins' records held by Mitchell
(Records through the 1968 season, Mitchell’s final season with Washington)

• [1st] Most Points Scored, Career – 546
• [1st] Most Receptions, Career – 392
• [1st] Most Yards Gained Receiving, Career – 6,480
• [1st] Most Yards Gained Receiving, Season – 1,436 (1963)
• [1st] Most Yards Gained Receiving, Game – 218 (vs. Pittsburgh, Nov. 7, 1963)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Receptions, Season – 72 (1962)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Receptions, Game – 11 (vs. Pittsburgh, Nov. 7, 1963)

League Statistical Championships
Pass Receiving Titles: 1962
Receiving Yards Leader: 1962, 1963

Team Statistical Championships
Scoring Leader: 1962^WA
Pass Receiving: 1960^CL, 1962^WA, 1963^WA, 1964^WA, 1965^WA
Punt Return Leaders: 1958^CL, 1959^CL, 1961^CL
Kickoff Return Leader: 1958^CL, 1959^CL, 1960^CL, 1961<sup>CL

CL</sup> Cleveland Browns; ^WA Washington Redskins

• 1958 Rookie of the Year (SN)

Bobby Mitchell's Career Capsule

Full Name: Robert Cornelius Mitchell

Birthdate: June 6, 1935

Birthplace: Hot Springs, Arkansas

High School: Langston (Hot Springs, AR)

Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 29, 1983

Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: July 30, 1983

Presenter: Edward Bennett Williams, Washington Redskins President

Other Members of Class of 1983: Bobby Bell, Sid Gillman, Sonny Jurgensen, Paul Warfield

Pro Career: 11 Seasons, 148 games

Drafted: 7th round (84th player overall) in 1958 by Cleveland Browns

Transactions: December 14, 1961 – Mitchell and the rights to Cleveland’s 1st round draft pick in 1962 (Leroy Jackson, B, Illinois, 11th overall) in exchange for the rights to Washington’s 1st round draft pick in 1962 (Ernie Davis, B, Syracuse, 1st overall).

Uniform Number: 49

Bobby Mitchell Enshrinement speech

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