24 Facts About Bobby Mitchell

Robert Cornelius Mitchell was an American professional football player who was a halfback and flanker in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Redskins.

Bobby Mitchell became the Redskins' first African-American star after joining them in 1962, when they became the last NFL team to integrate.

Bobby Mitchell was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and attended Langston High School.

Bobby Mitchell played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and had a particularly good sophomore year.

Seven games into the season, Jefferson went down with an injury, and Bobby Mitchell took over at one of the halfback spots.

Bobby Mitchell gained more than 100 yards in each of the final two games of the season, when he played as a defensive back.

Bobby Mitchell was named first-team All-Big Ten football in 1955 and second-team status in 1957.

Bobby Mitchell was named to The Pigskin Club Honor Roll by The Pigskin Club of Washington, DC.

Bobby Mitchell was unsure whether he wanted to pursue a career in football or track.

Bobby Mitchell was drafted in the seventh round of the 1958 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, where he played as a halfback.

Bobby Mitchell was teamed with Jim Brown to give the Browns one of the most successful running back combinations from 1958 through 1961.

Bobby Mitchell earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 1960.

Bobby Mitchell once held the Browns' career record for kickoff returns for touchdowns, and he currently holds the team's best rookie rushing average.

Bill McPeak, in his first year as head coach, immediately announced Bobby Mitchell would become a flanker.

Bobby Mitchell led the league with 72 catches and 1384 yards and ranked third with 11 touchdowns.

Bobby Mitchell was selected to the first of three consecutive Pro Bowls.

In 1963, Bobby Mitchell recorded 69 catches for 1436 yards and seven more touchdowns.

Bobby Mitchell enjoyed only moderate success running the ball but he did catch 60 passes for 866 yards and six touchdowns.

Bobby Mitchell amassed 7,954 yards on receptions and 2,735 yards on rushes.

Bobby Mitchell was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

Bobby Mitchell gradually moved up in the ranks to assistant general manager in the organization, and he aspired to become the NFL's first black GM.

Bobby Mitchell retired in 2003, stating that he was "deeply hurt" by how owner Jack Kent Cooke passed him over as the team's general manager in favor of Charley Casserly in 1989 and by coach Steve Spurrier's decision to issue his No 49 uniform number, which had not been issued for years though never retired, to Leonard Stephens that season.

Bobby Mitchell lived in Washington, DC, with his wife, Gwen, who is an attorney.

Bobby Mitchell worked in many efforts and organizations, including the United Negro College Fund, the Howard University Cancer Research Advisory Committee, the American Lung Association of DC, the Martin Luther King Jr.