UL Athlete (1986-89) Brian Mitchell

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Brian Mitchell deserves Hall of Fame consideration

Posted on August 4, 2002

LOUISIANA Là - Why not Brian?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame welcomed another class of worthy inductees this weekend, headlined by Jim Kelly and John Stallworth and including Dave Casper, Dan Hampton and George Allen - all boasting solid credentials for inclusion.

Soon there will be inductions for players like John Elway, Dan Marino, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders and probably the two No. 8's - Troy Aikman and Steve Young.

A quick look at the all-time Hall of Fame roster reveals plenty of position players, as you would expect.

Of the current membership, the only place kicker is Jan Stenerud. George Blanda is there, too, but he was also a quarterback of some achievement. But that's it for special teams performers.

Now, if you listen to any coach in the business, he'll tell you that special teams make up one-third of the game. If that's so, then the Suicide Squad is getting short-changed in the Hall of Fame.

If there is a current player who might expand that select list, it should be Brian Mitchell of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The former Louisiana Ragin' Cajun will turn 34 this month, and yet has survived 12 seasons as a human pinball without serious injury playing for the Washington Redskins and the Eagles.

If the average lifespan of an NFL running back is 4 1/2 years, then expectations for the average special teams performer have got to be shorter than that. And yet Mitchell has played in 176 straight regular-season games in the NFL.

Two years into his career, Mitchell earned a Super Bowl ring with the 1991 Redskins. He was named a member of the Washington 70th anniversary team this year, after leaving as a salary cap casualty in 2000.

But, how can a kick returner make the Hall of Fame? Isn't there a tackle out there who should go first?

In a word, credentials.

Mitchell is one of only three players in NFL history who have ac~~~ulated more than 20,000 net yards with 20,263 by rushing, receiving, kickoff returns and punt returns. The other two? All-time rushing leader Walter Payton (21,803 total) and all-time receiving leader Rice (21,017 entering 2002).

Only Mitchell and Hall of Fame member Jim Brown have led the NFL in combined yards four times (Mitchell 1994-96, 1998), with Brown achieving the trick five times.

In 1995, Mitchell earned a Pro Bowl berth when he led the league in total yards with 2,359.

He is the league's all-time leader in eight different kick return categories.

Since 1960, only Mitchell and Hall of Famer Gale Sayers have scored touchdowns rushing, receiving, on a kickoff return and on a punt return twice in the same season.

Mitchell's 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at Tampa Bay in January of 2000 is an NFL playoff record.

None of this should be that much of a surprise. The first time Mitchell touched the ball in the NFL, he returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown in an exhibition game against Atlanta in a game played in Chapel Hill, N.C. in 1990.

He's been heading for the goal line ever since.

As the starting quarterback for then-USL from 1986-89, Mitchell became the first player in college history to rush for over 3,000 yards (3,335) and pass for over 5,000 (5,447) in his career. He also set a quarterback record for career touchdowns with 47.

Christian Keener "Red" Cagle, who played at then-SLI in the 1920s, is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame after also starring at West Point.

With credentials and durability to spare, Brian Mitchell deserves to be the first Cajun in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as its first all-purpose suicide squad star.

[Turbine]

Picture used on 1989 Football Media Guide cover.

Heisman Trophy Candidate
BRIAN MITCHELL
"Sultan of the Swamp"

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Brian Mitchell is Louisiana's all-time leader in rushing, scoring and total offense. While under center Brian led the Cajuns to four straght winning seasons from 1986 through 1989.

As a career Ragin' Cajun Brian Mitchell was* the only person in NCAA D1 history to pass for more than 5,000 yards and rush for more than 3,000.

As a quarterback, Brian Mitchells 47 rushing touchdowns was an NCAA record.

*This record stood for 13 years until IU qb Antwaan Randle El surpassed his record in 2001.

1988

[NewsCopy]

They're the three R's of football - rushing, receiving and returning. And when you put them all together, only two players in the history of the NFL have more combined yardage than the Eagles' Brian Mitchell. You may have heard of those two players before - Walter Payton and Jerry Rice. The former is already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the latter will be in the first year he's eligible. But Mitchell knows he's a long shot for that kind of honor, even though he's the leading kick and punt returner the NFL has ever seen. "I can't control how people perceive the things I've accomplished in this league,'' Mitchell said. "You would like to think the numbers speak for themselves. Whether or not that's true, I have no idea.'' Nobody does, because no return specialist has ever been elected to the Hall of Fame. In fact, special teams in general gets little attention from Hall of Fame voters. Only one player has ever made it strictly for special teams, kicker Jan Stenerud. Mitchell's resume is impressive. As the Eagles prepare for Monday night's showdown with the New York Giants at Veterans Stadium, Mitchell has amassed 20,984 yards in 13 seasons, 10 with Washington and three with the Eagles. And that's more combined yardage than Hall of Fame running backs such as Paul Hornung, Gale Sayers, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett, O.J. Simpson, Steve Van Buren, Leroy Kelly, Lenny Moore, John Riggins and former Rancocas Valley High School star Franco Harris, not to mention a guy by the name of Jim Brown. It's also more than Emmitt Smith, who will make major headlines in the next week or two when he breaks Payton's all-time rushing record. Eagles teammate N.D. Kalu, also a special teams ace, doesn't understand why Mitchell's accomplishments aren't trumpeted like the leaders in the other R's. ``What's the difference? Yardage is yardage, and it all counts the same,'' Kalu said. ``It's all about moving the ball into the other guy's side of the field, and it doesn't matter how you do it. Returning yards are as important as any other kind of yards.'' Perhaps the most amazing facet of Mitchell's amazing career is that he's still doing it at age 34 - he's currently fifth in the NFC in both kickoff and punt returns. John Harbaugh, the Eagles special teams coach, admits he's mystified how Mitchell can continue to excel in a young man's game and at an even younger man's position. The five returners ahead of him in the current NFL rankings have been in the league an average of 2.75 years - a total of 11 years - and Mitchell is in his 13th season. ``If we had the answer to that, we'd all live forever,'' Harbaugh said with a smile. ``He can still run and he's very strong,'' Harbaugh added. ``And I think his style lends itself to playing for a long time, because he's not really built on speed - he's fast enough, but he's built on power, toughness and he's got a great ability in terms of catching the ball. So maybe his style lends itself to playing longer than some other guys.'' Mitchell works hard to stay in shape, but he said his mental approach is as important as his physical. ``It's all about pride, and that's what I play for,'' he said. ``I don't play for money, although I like money. I don't play for fame, although I like fame. But what really drives me is pride in my performance and the knowledge that what I'm doing helps my team win. And the more somebody tells me I can't do something, the more determined I am to do it.'' Mitchell has no timetable for how long he'll continue to do it, but he's not planning on hanging up his spikes anytime soon. ``I'm having too much fun, especially with this team and the way we're playing right now,'' he said. ``I know that one of these days, they're going to kick me out of here. But that day isn't here yet.'' original Link abandoned full story posted.

[NewsCopy]

You can look it up: He keeps returning

A riddle: There's a player in the NFL who has started only 16 career games in 12-plus seasons. He's never rushed for more than 311 yards in a season or caught passes for more than 348.

Yet he can be found in the record book in an unlikely place, the third name behind the late Walter Payton and the still-going-strong Jerry Rice.

One last hint: He cooks a mean turkey and crawfish etouffee.

Who is this guy? Think Washington. Think Philadelphia.

Think Brian Mitchell.

Mitchell, 34, trails just Payton and Rice in an NFL category called "combined net yards gained." It includes yardage gained rushing, receiving and returns (kickoff, punt, interception and fumble).

Payton got most of his his 21,803 yards in the expected way, carrying the football. Rice is still adding to his 21,000-plus total in his usual way, too, by catching passes.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS

But Mitchell has only 4,245 yards rushing and receiving. His other 16,595 yards have come on returns, mostly punt and kickoff returns, a skill Mitchell will perform against the Bucs this afternoon.

He needs just 160 yards to break 21,000.

Nobody's done it longer and better. Mitchell holds or shares all-time league records in eight different punt return, kickoff return and combined return categories.

He's tied with Eric Metcalf for most combined return touchdowns, with a dozen. And he leads the combined return yardage field by more than 3,500 yards over second-place Mel Gray.

Mitchell, a Louisiana native and the son of a chef (hence his etouffee prowess) is a former star quarterback at Southwestern Louisiana (now Louisiana-Lafayette), who was a fifth-round draft pick of the Redskins in 1990.

He'd never returned a punt or kickoff until he reached the NFL, but he served notice early he'd be good at it. In his first exhibition game, against Atlanta, Mitchell lined up to receive the opening kickoff, and returned it for a TD.

In 10 years with the Redskins and two-plus with the Eagles, he's played running back, receiver, quarterback and special teams.

And he's still going strong. In addition to 15 kickoff returns for 379 yards and 17 punt returns for 189, Mitchell has been a particular terror on special teams this season.

Against Tennessee in the opener, he forced a fumble on a punt, scooped up the ball and returned it nine yards to the Titan 6 to set up a TD.

And against Houston Sept. 29, he threw for a 57-yard TD on a fake punt.

This story has been pulled from the web.
This is the purpose of RaginPagin.com

EYE ON SPORTS
By LYDIA HINSHAW

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The best pure athlete to ever come out of Louisiana.

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Return specialist Brian Mitchell, who ranks No. 1 in league history in kickoff and punt-returns yards and is second to Jerry Rice in all-purpose yards, has reached a contract agreement with the New York Giants.

ESPN.com has learned that Mitchell, 34, will sign a four-year contract worth $3.55 million, and the deal includes a $500,000 signing bonus. Mitchell was a fairly hot commodity right out of the box in free agency as teams made the return position a high priority.

Mitchell has played all 13 previous seasons in the NFC East, spending his first 10 seasons with the Redskins and his last three with the Eagles.

"He is excited to be able to stay in the NFC East and thrilled about being able to break the all-purpose yardage record in the Big Apple," said agent Steve Baker. "It's a terrific move for him."

The Associated Press quoted Mitchell as saying: "It's a great opportunity for me. I hope I can bring the same thing I've been doing. I hope I can bring my tenacity on the field and keep making right decisions.''

Mitchell has gained 22,001 all-purpose yards in his career, while Rice has 22,248 yards. He holds the NFL record for kickoff yardage (12,897) and for punt return yards (4,845) as well. Mitchell also has 1,947 rushing yards, 2,298 receiving yards and 14 yards via fumble return.

Among his 16 records for returns is the mark for most touchdowns, 13, via kick returns.

"He is one of the great return men in the history of the NFL, and is a threat to contend playing out of the backfield," said Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi. "After playing against him all these years, it's nice to finally have him on our side."

Mitchell is one of only two players in NFL history to lead the league in total return yardage four times.


Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

Link to Len Pasquarelli column

[Turbine]

I think the value of the contract is low for a player of Brians caliber.

Unless he is looking for Big Market exposure the Giants got a steal.

Regardless of his reasoning the Giants got a steal.

[NewsCopy]

This article came out in the NewYork Times on January 19, 2003, Sunday Edition. This was just prior to Brian Mitchell signing with the New York Giants

PHILADELPHIA -- THIS is a multiple-choice quiz. If a current member of the Philadelphia Eagles deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday, he would be:

a. Coach Andy Reid.

b. Quarterback Donovan McNabb.

c. Safety Brian Dawkins.

d. None of the above.

The answer is d. Reid has to win a Super Bowl or two. McNabb has to keep passing and running as only he can. Dawkins has to keep flattening pass receivers and running backs.

But one of the Eagles already has Hall of Fame credentials, one that not enough people know about: kick returner Brian Mitchell.

If a yard is a yard in the National Football League no matter how it's attained, Mitchell deserves a bronze bust in the Canton, Ohio, shrine.

In the category of career regular-season combined net yardage, Mitchell's 22,001 yards are more than anybody in N.F.L. history except Jerry Rice, who has 22,248. Behind Mitchell are Walter Payton, who had 21,803, and Emmitt Smith, who has 20,095.

If you're second to Jerry Rice in anything, not to mention having the possibility of passing him, you deserve to be in Canton.

''I don't think about that stuff,'' Mitchell says of the Hall of Fame. ''I mean, it would be an honor. But that's out of my control.''

Reid said, ''Brian is as deserving of the Hall of Fame as anybody who's made it, and I say that before his career is over.'' John Harbaugh, the Eagles' special-teams coach, said, ''If Brian's not a Hall of Famer, why have punt returns or kickoff returns in the game?''

In today's National Football Conference championship game against Tampa Bay at Veterans Stadium, the Eagles will be looking to Mitchell to make a difference, if not the difference.

''Special teams are going to sway it,'' Mitchell was saying at his locker Thursday. ''You want to pin them back with good coverage and get good field position with good returns.''

Most kick returners are young and reckless sprinters waiting to be an every-down running back or wide receiver. But at 34, the 5-foot-10, rock-solid 221-pound Mitchell has turned his specialty into a science. He catches punts with his hands. He runs and resists tacklers with his legs. But it all starts with his eyes.

''If the nose of the ball is up, it'll float,'' he said. ''If it turns over, it'll carry. If the tail is to the right, it'll fall away. All the time, I'm watching the gunners covering the punt out of the corner of my eyes. And if the ball is hanging up there a long time, you have to decide whether to fair-catch it or not.''

If he decides to return the punt, he doesn't depend on any tricky moves.

''Brian runs straight upfield and never misses a seam,'' Harbaugh said. ''He tries to break as many tackles as he can.''

Returning kickoffs is easier than returning punts, at least for Mitchell.

''On a kickoff, you know where the kicker is going to kick it by his position before he kicks it,'' he said. ''You just catch the ball, get behind the wedge and go.''

Some opponents deride Mitchell as an old man in a young man's job, but he just smiles.

''That stuff doesn't necessarily fire me up,'' he said. ''I just try to prove 'em wrong.''

When the Eagles needed Mitchell the most, at San Francisco in their first game after McNabb broke his ankle, his 76-yard punt return for a touchdown sparked a 38-17 victory. It was his ninth punt return touchdown, one of his eight career kick return records. He also holds five postseason kick return records.

''Brian's not the fastest guy back there, but he's the smartest,'' said Ike Reese, a linebacker and coverage specialist. ''He knows how to hit the hole and he's reliable.''

Mitchell's most remarkable statistic: over 13 seasons and 32 postseason games with the Redskins and the Eagles, he has had a total of 1,737 returns, rushes and receptions, not to mention all his fair catches, but he has fumbled only twice. If the N.F.L. kept a least-fumble stat, he might be the career leader there, too.

His other remarkable statistic: he has missed only one game, late in his rookie season in 1990 when Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs chose to rest him.

And when the Eagles were down to their No. 3 quarterback, A. J. Feeley, late this season, Mitchell was the emergency backup. As the University of Louisiana quarterback, he had passed for 5,447 yards and run for 3,335. If Feeley had been hurt, Mitchell would have been the quarterback, with a wristband full of plays.

''We would've been fine with me back there,'' he said at the time. ''I know how to make the checks at the line and everything.''

But this is a kick returner, the best ever at what he does. Jan Stenerud is the only kicker in the Hall of Fame, the only special-teams player, but Brian Mitchell deserves to be the first kick returner there five years after he eventually stops playing. Whenever that is.

''The harder you work in the off-season, the better you'll be during the season,'' he said. ''I'm going to try to play two or three more seasons.''

If he does, he might even jump past Jerry Rice in combined net yardage. But even if he doesn't, Brian Mitchell already has Canton numbers.

Sports Desk
Sports of The Times
By DAVE ANDERSON

Thanks to James Bitterman of the Mr. Bitter Show for finding this article. His show can be heard on ESPN1420 Saturday mornings from 8am to 10am

[CDeb]

Great article. Really puts some of Brian's accomplishments into perspective.

[cajun tom]

Brian Mitchell is not an eagle anymore. He just sign to play with the New York football giants.

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Originally posted by cajun tom
Brian Mitchell is not an eagle anymore. He just sign to play with the New York football giants.

Oops, tried to cover that point with small print and italics at the very beginning.