View source for Brian Mitchell (running back)

{{Short description|American football player (born 1968)}}
{{For|other people with the same name|Brian Mitchell (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Brian Mitchell
| image       = Brian Mitchell (52031841992) (cropped).jpg
| image_size  =
| alt         = 
| caption     = Mitchell in 2022
| number      = 30
| position    = [[Running back]] <br> [[Return specialist]]
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1968|8|18}}
| birth_place = [[Fort Polk, Louisiana]], U.S.
| death_date  = 
| death_place = 
| height_ft   = 5
| height_in   = 11
| weight_lb   = 221
| high_school = [[Plaquemine Senior High School|Plaquemine]] {{avoid wrap|([[Plaquemine, Louisiana]])}}
| college     = [[Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football|Southwestern Louisiana]] (1986–1989)
| draftyear   = 1990
| draftround  = 5
| draftpick   = 130
| pastteams   =
* [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|1990|1999}})
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|2000|2002}})
* [[New York Giants]] ({{NFL Year|2003}})
| highlights  =
* [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XXVI|XXVI]])
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1995 All-Pro Team|1995]])
* 2× Second-team All-Pro ([[1991 All-Pro Team|1991]], [[1994 All-Pro Team|1994]])
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1996 Pro Bowl|1995]])
* [[List of National Football League annual punt return yards leaders|NFL punt return yards leader]] (1991)
* [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins 70th Anniversary Team]]
* [[Washington Commanders#90 Greatest|Washington Commanders 90 Greatest]]
* [[Washington Commanders#Ring of Fame|Washington Commanders Ring of Fame]]
; NFL records <!--major records-->
* Most career kickoff return yards: 14,014
* Most career punt return yards: 4,999
* Most career total return yards: 19,013
| statlabel1  = Rushing yards
| statvalue1  = 1,967
| statlabel2  = Rushing average
| statvalue2  = 5.1
| statlabel3  = Rushing [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3  = 12
| statlabel4  = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue4  = 255
| statlabel5  = Receiving yards
| statvalue5  = 2,336
| statlabel6  = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6  = 4
| statlabel7  = Return yards
| statvalue7  = 19,013
| statlabel8  = Return touchdowns
| statvalue8  = 13
| pfr         = MitcBr00 
}}

'''Brian Keith Mitchell''' (born August 18, 1968) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[running back]] and [[return specialist]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] as a [[quarterback]] for the [[Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football|Southwestern Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns]] and was selected by the [[Washington Redskins]] in the fifth round of the [[1990 NFL draft]].
Mitchell is considered one of the greatest return specialists in NFL history.<ref>{{cite web | title=Why Brian Mitchell Is the Best Return Specialist in NFL History | work=bleacherreport.com | url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/189034-brian-mitchell-the-best-return-specialist-in-nfl-history | access-date=November 4, 2015 | archive-date=March 6, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306025340/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/189034-brian-mitchell-the-best-return-specialist-in-nfl-history | url-status=live }}</ref>

Mitchell also played for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] and the [[New York Giants]]. He is currently second on the [[List of National Football League career all-purpose yards leaders|NFL's all-time all-purpose yardage]] with 23,330 yards, behind [[Jerry Rice]]. He is also first all-time for combined yardage for a non-wide receiver. His 13 special teams [[touchdown]]s are second in NFL history, behind [[Devin Hester]], and his nine punt return touchdowns are third behind [[Eric Metcalf]] with 10, and Hester with 14. Mitchell was ranked the second greatest specialist in NFL history by [[NFL Network]]'s [[NFL Top 10]] Return Aces.

As of February 2021, Mitchell began co-hosting the radio show "BMitch and Finlay" on [[WJFK-FM]] with JP Finlay of [[NBC Sports Washington]].

==Early life==
Mitchell was the son of a career [[U.S. Army]] soldier and the youngest of seven children, born in [[Fort Polk, Louisiana]].  He played football at [[Plaquemine High School]].

==College career==
Mitchell attended the [[University of Louisiana at Lafayette|University of Southwestern Louisiana]] (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette), where he played [[quarterback]].

At Southwestern Louisiana, Mitchell became the first player in [[NCAA]] history to pass for more than 5,000 yards (5,447) and rush for more than 3,000 yards (3,335). He also held the NCAA record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (47). As a senior, he rushed for 1,311 yards and passed for 1,966 yards while accounting for 25 touchdowns (six passing, 19 rushing). Yet, in his college career, he never returned a punt or a kickoff.<ref name="Giants">{{cite web |url=http://www.giants.com/news/headlines/story.asp?story_id=288 |title=Giants Sign Return Specialist Brian Mitchell |last=Eisen |first=Michael |work=Giants.com |date=March 3, 2003 |access-date=November 23, 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 5
|    height in = 10 1/8
|       weight = 198
|         dash = 4.59
|    ten split = 1.63
| twenty split = 2.79
|      shuttle = 4.01
|   cone drill =
|     vertical = 32.0
|     broad ft =
|     broad in =
|        bench =
|     arm span = 29 3/8
|    hand span = 10 1/4
|    wonderlic =
|         note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=25477 |title=Brian Mitchell, Combine Results, RB - Southwestern Louisiana |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919134308/https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=25477 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

Mitchell was selected in the [[1990 NFL draft#Round five|fifth round (130th overall)]] of the [[1990 NFL draft]] by the [[Washington Redskins]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1990/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=October 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027142426/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1990/draft.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Washington Redskins===
As a [[rookie]], Mitchell started off his career by returning the opening kickoff of the Redskins first pre-season game for a touchdown. During a ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' game that came to be known as "[[The Body Bag Game]]" on November 12, 1990, Mitchell had to be subbed in as quarterback after the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] knocked the Redskins' starting and backup quarterbacks out of the game. Mitchell went 3-for-6 for 40 yards passing and ran for a touchdown.

During his second season with the Redskins in 1991, Mitchell led the NFL in punt return yards (600) and punt return touchdowns (two), helping his team to an appearance in [[Super Bowl XXVI]], where Washington defeated the [[Buffalo Bills]] 37–24.

Mitchell continued to play for the Redskins until 1999, leading the NFL in punt return average (14.1) and touchdowns (two) in 1994, and making a [[Pro Bowl]] selection in 1995. He also led the league in combined yards every season from 1994 through 1996, and again in 1998. He is one of only two players to lead the league in that statistical category at least four times. The other is [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[Jim Brown]], who did it five times.<ref name="Giants" />

Mitchell was released following the 1999 season with the arrival of a new owner, [[Daniel Snyder]].

===Later career===
Mitchell signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2000, and played for them until 2002. Despite only playing with the team for three years, Mitchell left as the franchise's all-time leader in punt return yards, and retains this record to this day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/career-returns.htm|title=Philadelphia Eagles Career Kick & Punt Returns Leaders|website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]|access-date=March 31, 2018|archive-date=August 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807044736/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/career-returns.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2002, Mitchell was one of only two players to be ranked in the top seven in both kickoff returns and punt returns (the other being [[Michael Lewis (wide receiver)|Michael Lewis]] of the [[New Orleans Saints]]). He was the only player in the NFC to be ranked in the top three in both categories. Mitchell was second in the NFC and third in the NFL with a career-high 27.0-yard average on 43 kickoff returns.<ref name="Giants" /> Mitchell was also third in the NFC and seventh in the NFL with a 12.3-yard punt return average on 46 punts. He returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown against the [[San Francisco 49ers]] on November 25. It was Mitchell's 13th career kick returned for a touchdown, breaking a tie with [[Eric Metcalf]] and ranking Mitchell first in the record book. That week, he also set a record for kick return yards in a single game with 206 yards on six kick returns.<ref name="Giants" />

He then signed with the [[New York Giants]] for the 2003 season.<ref name="Giants" /> He was released before the 2004 season. He then re-signed to a one-day contract with the Washington Redskins, allowing him to retire a Redskin.

==Legacy==
{{update|part=HOF results|date=December 2023}}
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
Mitchell is the NFL's second all-time leader in total yardage, second only to [[Jerry Rice]] with 23,330 yards, thanks in large part to his 14,014 yards from kickoff returns and his 4,999 punt return yards. Both are NFL records, and his 875 postseason kickoff return yards are a record as well. He also rushed for 1,967 yards on 388 carries (avg. 5.1 rushing yards), caught 255 passes for 2,336 yards, recovered 20 fumbles for 14 return yards, and scored 29 touchdowns (four kickoff returns, nine punt returns, 12 rushing, and four receiving). His 13 special teams touchdowns rank second in the NFL only behind Devin Hester. His nine punt return touchdowns rank third behind Hester (11) and [[Eric Metcalf]] (10).

Mitchell also holds the NFL record for most combined yards by any one player against a single opponent: 3,076 all-purpose yards against the Dallas Cowboys.  He also holds the record for most all-purpose yards in a single decade.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/get-up-dc/washington-football-team-brian-mitchell-hall-of-fame/65-2f4b6c72-3818-45d4-9bdc-df842de83e55 | title=Washington football legend Brian Mitchell deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame &#124; Hear Me Out | date=August 19, 2021 | access-date=July 4, 2023 | archive-date=September 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919134307/https://www.wusa9.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/get-up-dc/washington-football-team-brian-mitchell-hall-of-fame/65-2f4b6c72-3818-45d4-9bdc-df842de83e55 | url-status=live }}</ref>

He is also one of only five players to record four seasons of over 2,000 total yards, (the others being [[Marshall Faulk]], [[Dante Hall]], [[Darren Sproles]], and [[Tiki Barber]]) and missed out on a fifth by only five yards.{{citation needed|date=November 2009}}

He was inducted into the [[Washington Redskins Ring of Fame]] at FedEx Field during the 2009 season.

On September 14, 2016, Mitchell was nominated for the 2017 class of the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]], but he was not selected as a finalist.  On September 22, 2021, he was nominated for the 2022 class.

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| style="background:#e0cef2;"|
| NFL record
|-
| style="background:#cfecec;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Return specialist statistics===
{{NFL RS stats start}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1990 NFL season|1990]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1990 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 15 || 0 || 12 || 107 || 0 || 26 || 8.9 || 18 || 365 || 0 || 37 || 20.3 || 558
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1991 NFL season|1991]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1991 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 0 || 45 || style="background:#afe6ba;"|'''600''' || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''2''' || 69 || 13.3 || 29 || 583 || 0 || 35 || 20.1 || 1,197
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1992 NFL season|1992]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1992 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 0 || 29 || 278 || 1 || '''84''' || 9.3 || 23 || 492 || 0 || 47 || 21.4 || 863
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1993 NFL season|1993]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1993 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 4 || 29 || 193 || 0 || 48 || 6.7 || 33 || 678 || 0 || 68 || 20.5 || 1,274
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1994 NFL season|1994]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1994 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || '''7''' || 32 || 452 || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''2''' || 78 || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''14.1''' || 58 || '''1,478''' || 0 || 86 || 25.5 || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''2,477'''
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1995 NFL season|1995]] 
| style="text-align:center;" style="background:#cfecec;"|[[1995 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 1 || 25 || 315 || style="background:#cfecec;"|1 || 59 || 12.6 || 55 || 1,408 || 0 || 59 || 25.6 || style="background:#cfecec;"|2,348
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1996 NFL season|1996]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1996 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 2 || 23 || 258 || 0 || 71 || 11.2 || 56 || 1,258 || 0 || 50 || 22.5 || style="background:#cfecec;"|1,995
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1997 NFL season|1997]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1997 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 1 || 38 || 442 || 1 || 63 || 11.6 || 47 || 1,094 || '''1''' || 97 || 23.3 || 2,081
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1998 NFL season|1998]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1998 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 0 || 44 || 506 || 0 || 47 || 11.5 || '''59''' || 1,337 || '''1''' || '''101''' || 22.7 || style="background:#cfecec;"|2,357
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1999 NFL season|1999]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1999 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 0 || 40 || 332 || 0 || 33 || 8.3 || 43 || 893 || 0 || 45 || 20.8 || 1,755
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2000 NFL season|2000]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2000 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 16 || 1 || 32 || 335 || 1 || 72 || 10.5 || 47 || 1,124 || '''1''' || 89 || 23.9 || 1,735
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2001 NFL season|2001]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2001 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 16 || 0 || 39 || 467 || 0 || 54 || 12.0 || 41 || 1,025 || '''1''' || 94 || 25.0 || 1,623
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2002 NFL season|2002]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2002 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 16 || 0 || 46 || 567 || 1 || 76 || 12.3 || 43 || 1,162 || 0 || 57 || '''27.0''' || 1,738
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2003 NFL season|2003]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2003 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 16 || 0 || 29 || 154 || 0 || 15 || 5.3 || 55 || 1,117 || 0 || 29 || 20.3 || 1,329
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan="2"| Career || 223 || 16 || style="background:#e0cef2;"|463 || style="background:#e0cef2;"|4,999 || 9 || 84 || 10.8 || style="background:#e0cef2;"|607 || style="background:#e0cef2;"|14,014 || 4 || 101 || 23.1 || 23,330
|}

===Rushing and receiving statistics===
{{NFL RB stats start}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1990 NFL season|1990]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1990 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 15 || 0 || 15 || 81 || 5.4 || 5.4 || 1 || rowspan="2"| N/A{{efn|Data for the Targets statistic prior to the [[1992 NFL season|1992 season]] is missing from the [[Pro-Football-Reference.com|Pro Football Reference]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Lynch|first=Mike|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2016/01/find-nfl-yards-per-target-leaders-since-1992/|title=Find NFL Yards Per Target Leaders Since 1992|publisher=Sports-Reference|date=January 14, 2016|access-date=September 10, 2024|archive-date=July 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715205830/https://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2016/01/find-nfl-yards-per-target-leaders-since-1992/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} || 2 || 5 || 2.5 || 0.3 || 0 || 2
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1991 NFL season|1991]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1991 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 0 || 3 || 14 || 4.7 || 0.9 || 0 || 0 || – || – || – || 0 || '''8'''
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1992 NFL season|1992]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1992 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 0 || 6 || 70 || '''11.7''' || 4.4 || 0 || 4 || 3 || 30 || 10.0 || 1.9 || 0 || 4
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1993 NFL season|1993]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1993 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 4 || 63 || 246 || 3.9 || 15.4 || '''3''' || 21 || 20 || 157 || 7.9 || 9.8 || 0 || 3
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1994 NFL season|1994]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1994 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || '''7''' || '''78''' || '''311''' || 4.0 || '''19.4''' || 0 || 53 || 26 || 236 || 9.1 || 14.8 || 1 || 4
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1995 NFL season|1995]] 
| style="text-align:center;" style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1995 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 1 || 46 || 301 || 6.5 || 18.8 || 1 || 50 || 38 || 324 || 8.5 || 20.3 || 1 || 2
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1996 NFL season|1996]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1996 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 2 || 39 || 193 || 4.9 || 12.1 || 0 || 40 || 32 || 286 || 8.9 || 17.9 || 0 || 1
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1997 NFL season|1997]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1997 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 1 || 23 || 107 || 4.7 || 6.7 || 1 || 50 || 36 || '''438''' || 12.2 || '''27.4''' || 1 || 3
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1998 NFL season|1998]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1998 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 0 || 39 || 208 || 5.3 || 13.0 || 2 || '''62''' || '''44''' || 306 || 7.0 || 19.1 || 0 || 3
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1999 NFL season|1999]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[1999 Washington Redskins season|WSH]]
| 16 || 0 || 40 || 220 || 5.5 || 13.8 || 1 || 40 || 31 || 305 || 9.8 || 19.1 || 0 || 2
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2000 NFL season|2000]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2000 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 16 || 1 || 25 || 187 || 7.5 || 11.7 || 2 || 21 || 13 || 89 || 6.8 || 5.6 || 1 || 3
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2001 NFL season|2001]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2001 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 16 || 0 || 7 || 9 || 1.3 || 0.6 || 0 || 8 || 6 || 122 || '''20.3''' || 7.6 || 0 || 3
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2002 NFL season|2002]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2002 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 16 || 0 || 0 || – || – || – || 0 || 0 || 0 || – || – || – || 0 || 3
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2003 NFL season|2003]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|[[2003 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 16 || 0 || 4 || 20 || 5.0 || 1.3 || 1 || 5 || 4 || 38 || 9.5 || 2.4 || 1 || 5
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan="2"| Career || 223 || 16 || 388 || 1,967 || 5.1 || 8.8 || 12 || 354 || 255 || 2,336 || 9.2 || 10.5 || 4 || 46
|}

==NFL records==
* Combined kickoff and punt return yards: 19,013<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Kick & Punt Return Yards Career Leaders (since 1941) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/ret_yds_career.htm |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |access-date=19 September 2024 |language=en |archive-date=February 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214030026/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/ret_yds_career.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Combined kickoff and punt returns: 1,070<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Kick & Punt Returns Career Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/ret_career.htm |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |access-date=19 September 2024 |language=en |archive-date=September 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919134306/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/ret_career.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Kickoff return yards: 14,014<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Kick Return Yards Career Leaders (since 1941) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/kick_ret_yds_career.htm |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |access-date=19 September 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
* Kickoff returns: 607<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Kick Returns Career Leaders (since 1941) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/kick_ret_career.htm |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |access-date=19 September 2024 |language=en |archive-date=September 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919134306/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/kick_ret_career.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Punt return yards: 4,999<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Punt Return Yards Career Leaders (since 1941) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/punt_ret_yds_career.htm |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |access-date=19 September 2024 |language=en |archive-date=November 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121074926/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/punt_ret_yds_career.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Punt returns: 463<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Punt Returns Career Leaders (since 1941) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/punt_ret_career.htm |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |access-date=19 September 2024 |language=en |archive-date=September 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919134307/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/punt_ret_career.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Fair catches: 231{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

==Life after football==
[[File:WFT vs. Giants (51500937990).jpg|thumb|right|Mitchell at [[FedExField]] in 2021]]

===On television===
Since retiring, Mitchell has been a TV and radio host and analyst for a variety of outlets. On TV, he is currently the NFL analyst for [[WUSA (TV)|WUSA]]-TV in [[Washington D.C.]], where he co-hosts the station's Sunday night wrap-up program entitled ''"Sports Plus''. Additionally, Mitchell co-hosts "Sports Talk Live" with ex-hog Ric "Doc" Walker and can be seen on ''Redskins Pre/Post Game Live'', both on [[NBC Sports Washington]] in Washington, D.C.

===On radio===
On radio, Mitchell was the host of ''The Brian Mitchell Show'' on [[WTEM]], located in [[Rockville, Maryland]], until the show ended on April 27, 2007 because of program lineup changes. He then moved to ''The [[John Thompson (basketball)|John Thompson]] Show'' as co-host. During the 2008 season on an edition of "The John Thompson Show," Mitchell got into a heated argument with Redskins running back Clinton Portis, who was a guest on the show.  Mitchell served as a frequent guest and guest host on "The Sports Junkies" and the "Mike Wise Show" on 106.7 The Fan. Brian announced on the January 21, 2010 edition of the Mike Wise Show that he would have his own show on Saturdays from 10–3 on 106.7 The Fan.  He also runs the Brian Mitchell Football Camp throughout [[Virginia]].  Since March 2012, Mitchell has co-hosted [[WTEM|ESPN 980's]] ''Inside The Locker Room'' with former Redskin [[Rick Walker]] and local DC area broadcaster Scott Jackson. In 2018, ''The Brian Mitchell Show'' returned with Mitchell hosting alongside Scott Linn.

In February 2021, [[WJFK-FM|106.7 the Fan in Washington]] announced their new radio show, ''BMitch and Finlay'', that is co-hosted by Mitchell and [[NBC Sports Washington|NBC Sports Washington's]] Washington Football Team beat reporter JP Finlay.<ref>{{cite web|work=Audacy.com|url=https://www.audacy.com/thefandc/sports/brian-mitchell-jp-finlay-new-midday-show-on-1067-the-fan|title=ENTERCOM ANNOUNCES NEW MIDDAY SHOW FOR 106.7 The FAN IN WASHINGTON D.C.|first=David|last=Heim|date=February 4, 2021|accessdate=April 28, 2021|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429014621/https://www.audacy.com/thefandc/sports/brian-mitchell-jp-finlay-new-midday-show-on-1067-the-fan|url-status=live}}</ref> The show replaced Chad Dukes Vs. the World after the radio station fired the show's host, [[Chad Dukes (radio personality)|Chad Dukes]].<ref>{{cite news|work=WashingtonPost.com|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/02/04/brian-mitchell-jp-finlay-will-co-host-show-part-new-lineups-1067-fan-team-980/|title=Brian Mitchell and JP Finlay will co-host show as part of new lineups at 106.7 the Fan, Team 980|first=Scott|last=Allen|date=February 4, 2021|accessdate=April 28, 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Mitchell has four children with his wife Monica.<ref name="Giants" /> He founded the Brian Mitchell Foundation in 2001 to help disadvantaged children in [[Philadelphia]], Washington, D.C., and his hometown of [[Plaquemine, Louisiana]].<ref name="Giants" />

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070314141059/http://brianmitchellfoundation.org/ Brian Mitchell Foundation]
* {{Footballstats |nfl=brian-mitchell-2 |espn=102  |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=M/MitcBr00 |rotoworld= }}

{{Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns quarterback navbox}}
{{Redskins1990DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XXVI}}
{{Washington Commanders greatest players}}
{{Washington Commanders Ring of Fame}}
{{NFL punt return yards leaders}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Brian}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:American football return specialists]]
[[Category:American football running backs]]
[[Category:Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:New York Giants players]]
[[Category:People from Plaquemine, Louisiana]]
[[Category:People from Vernon Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins players]]