1. Lydell Douglas Mitchell was born on May 30,1949 and is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League from 1972 to 1980.
56 Facts About Lydell Mitchell
1. 2.
Lydell Mitchell earned two All-Pro Second-Team selections and three Pro Bowl selections during his career.
3.
The first Colt in franchise history to gain 1,000 yards in a single season, Lydell Mitchell achieved the feat three times, as well as leading the NFL in receptions in 1974 and 1977.
4.
Lydell Mitchell was born on May 30,1949, in Salem, New Jersey.
5.
Lydell Mitchell attended Salem High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball.
6.
Lydell Mitchell earned a football scholarship to play at Penn State following his high school career.
7.
Lydell Mitchell played college football at Pennsylvania State University, where he and future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris joined head coach Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions following a 1969 undefeated season.
8.
Lydell Mitchell was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
9.
Lydell Mitchell recorded a 28-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Chuck Burkhart in the Orange Bowl victory.
10.
Lydell Mitchell finished the season with 134 carries for 751 yards and six touchdowns.
11.
Lydell Mitchell had 18 carries for 91 yards and one touchdown.
12.
In week five against Syracuse, Lydell Mitchell had 24 carries for 94 yards.
13.
Lydell Mitchell had 22 carries for 177 yards and four touchdowns, while Franco Harris added 17 carries for 104 yards and one touchdown.
14.
Lydell Mitchell moved his season total touchdown mark to 14, tying Charlie Pittman for the Penn State season total record with five games remaining.
15.
Lydell Mitchell started the game with a 33-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.
16.
Lydell Mitchell recorded four touchdowns in the game, breaking the NCAA single-season touchdown record.
17.
Lydell Mitchell had 27 carries for 146 yards and one touchdown, and was named the game's Offensive Most Valuable Player.
18.
Lydell Mitchell finished the 1971 season with 254 carries for 1,567 yards and 26 rushing touchdowns and added 16 receptions for 154 yards and three receiving touchdowns.
19.
Lydell Mitchell was voted to the 1971 AP All-America First-Team and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
20.
Lydell Mitchell led Penn State in all rushing categories and led the NCAA in total points scored.
21.
Lydell Mitchell was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the second round, 48th overall pick, of the 1972 NFL draft.
22.
Lydell Mitchell established himself as one of the NFL's best all-around running backs in the mid-1970s.
23.
Lydell Mitchell recorded 45 carries for 215 yard and one touchdown and added 18 receptions for 147 yards and one touchdown.
24.
Lydell Mitchell became the starter at running back and recorded 253 carries for 963 yards and two touchdowns.
25.
In 1974, Lydell Mitchell was again the Colts' leading rusher with 214 carries for 757 yards and five touchdowns.
26.
Lydell Mitchell set a then-NFL record for most carries in a game with 40 attempts.
27.
Lydell Mitchell was replaced by general manager Joe Thomas for the remainder of the season.
28.
Lydell Mitchell topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time, with 289 carries for 1,193 yards and a career-high 11 rushing touchdowns.
29.
Lydell Mitchell's 1,000-yard rushing performance was the first in Baltimore Colts' history.
30.
Lydell Mitchell added 60 receptions for 544 yards and six receiving touchdowns.
31.
In week six, Lydell Mitchell recorded his career-high rushing performance with 26 carries for 178 yards and one touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.
32.
Lydell Mitchell earned his first Pro Bowl selection and was named to the All-AFC Second-Team.
33.
In 1976, Lydell Mitchell again topped 1,000 rushing yards, leading the Colts for the third straight year.
34.
Lydell Mitchell finished the season with 289 carries for a career-high 1,200 yards and five touchdowns and added 60 receptions for 555 yards and three receiving touchdowns.
35.
Lydell Mitchell was named to the 1976 All-Pro Second-Team and to his second straight Pro Bowl.
36.
Lydell Mitchell rushed 17 times for 142 yards and one touchdown, with the touchdown coming on a 64-yard scramble on the game's first play from scrimmage.
37.
Lydell Mitchell finished the regular season with over 1,000 rushing yards for the third consecutive season, totaling 301 carries for 1,159 yards and three rushing touchdowns.
38.
Lydell Mitchell led the NFL in receptions for the second time in his career, with 71 catches for a career-high 620 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
39.
Lydell Mitchell was named to the 1977 All-Pro Second-Team and earned his third Pro Bowl selection.
40.
When he left the Colts, Lydell Mitchell was the franchise's career leading rusher with 5,487 yards, passing Lenny Moore.
41.
Lydell Mitchell joined the Dan Fouts-led Chargers as their starting running back in the 1978 season.
42.
Lydell Mitchell led the Chargers in rushing that year, with 214 carries for 820 yards and three touchdowns.
43.
Lydell Mitchell recorded his fifth straight 500-yard receiving season, with 57 catches for 500 yards and two touchdowns.
44.
Lydell Mitchell had a slow start to the season before turning in his best performance in week seven against the Miami Dolphins, where he accounted for all Chargers scoring.
45.
The next week against the Detroit Lions, Lydell Mitchell caught a 55-yard touchdown pass from Fouts and added 53 yards rushing on nine carries.
46.
Lydell Mitchell broke 100 yards rushing for the first time as a Charger in week 10 of the 1978 season against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he recorded 28 carries for 101 yards, following up the next week with a 29 carry, 144 yard performance against the Kansas City Chiefs.
47.
Lydell Mitchell missed time early in the season while he continued to recover.
48.
Lydell Mitchell finished the season with 53 carries for 211 yards and 19 receptions for 159 yards and one receiving touchdown.
49.
Lydell Mitchell had 33 rushing yards and one touchdown in the game.
50.
Lydell Mitchell was signed by the Los Angeles Rams on December 11,1980, to replace Elvis Peacock.
51.
Lydell Mitchell appeared in the Rams' final two games of the 1980 season, recording seven carries for 16 yards and two receptions for 21 yards.
52.
Lydell Mitchell became a free agent after the season, effectively ending his NFL career.
53.
Lydell Mitchell finished his career with 18 100-yard rushing games and three 1,000 yard rushing seasons.
54.
Lydell Mitchell earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary education from Penn State University in 1972.
55.
Lydell Mitchell is active in lecturing students on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
56.
Lydell Mitchell is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.