Redskins Legends

Bobby Mitchell

Career Highlights

In 1983, the Pro Football Hall of Fame rolled out its "Red-skin" carpet for Bobby Mitchell, highlighting his record breaking NFL playing career. Number 49’s statistics are truly mesmerizing. When he retired, his 14,078 total yards stood third in NFL history and his 92 touchdowns stood fifth all-time. He caught 521 passes, averaging 15.3 yards per catch, and averaged 26.4 yards on 102 kickoff returns in his career. He was also a four-time Pro Bowler.

His collegiate career was also one for the record books. At Illinois, he excelled at running track and playing football. Bobby set a world record for the 70-yard low hurdles, and was also named an All-Big Ten halfback. He was also a co-recipient of the 1958 College All-Star MVP Trophy.

In addition to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he has also been inducted into the Arkansas Hall of Fame, the Hot Springs (Arkansas) School District Hall of Fame, the Touchdown Club Hall of Fame and the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Hall of Stars. A glance through the list of “Who’s Who Among Black Americans” would also reveal the name “Bobby Mitchell”, as would any list recounting some of the NFL’s greatest players.

Since his retirement from football, Bobby Mitchell has risen through the Redskin organization, occupying a variety of positions. He was encouraged to join the Redskin staff in 1969, by the great Vince Lombardi. He began as a Player Scout, and has served as a Director of Pro Scouting, the Executive Assistant to the President, and the Assistant General Manager – a position he has held since 1984.

In addition to his distinguished playing career, Bobby has established an equally distinguished reputation for himself in the Washington, D.C. community through his dedication and service. He has been affiliated with and chaired a host of causes, some of which include: The Boys and Girls Club of Washington, the Urban League; the NAACP; the Police Boys and Girls Club of Washington, D.C.; the Bike Federation and Advisory Council of the Variety Club of Greater Washington, the United Negro College Fund Radio Drive; the Howard University Cancer Research Advisory Committee; the American Lung Association; the Washington Board of Trade; the Friendship House; the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Area Leadership Council; and the White House Task Force on Drugs. He has served as President of the Doug Williams Foundation and is also past President of the NAMD (National Association of Marketing Developers).

As a community relations liaison for the Washington Redskins, Bobby has served as a spokesperson for the Redskins GamePlan Program – a platform from which Redskin players instill in our youth the importance of standing strong in the face of peer pressure.