Brian Mitchell repairs past, retires a Washington Redskin

By Hugo Guzman  |   Wednesday, February 16, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

Washington Redskins
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ASHBURN, Virginia - In 14 NFL seasons, Brian Mitchell specialized in returns. So it was fitting that he returned to Washington to retire as a Redskin, five years after a bitter exit.

The NFL's leading career return man signed a one-day contract with Washington, enabling him to retire in the city where he achieved most of his success. "I had animosity, but I always knew this is what I would do," Mitchell said Wednesday. "The love I received from fans in this area let me know that I couldn't do it any other way. I'd been gone five years, but you would think I still dress in the uniform because they understood what I gave them. I gave so much."

Mitchell, who last played in 2003 with the New York Giants, is second behind only Jerry Rice in combined yardage with 22,330. Rice has 23,546 yards. Mitchell also played for Philadelphia from 2000-02. He holds 13 NFL records, including kickoff returns (607) and yards (14,014) and punt returns (463) and yards (4,999). He and Jim Brown are the only players who have led the NFL in combined yards four times.

"This is one of the toughest guys I've been around," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. "He played tough, he was extremely emotional and he meant a lot to our team." Mitchell was a fifth-round pick in 1990 out of Southwestern Louisiana, where he had been a wishbone quarterback. He became a running back with the Redskins but spent much of his time as a return man.

He started perfectly, returning his first NFL kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in a preseason game. A year later, when he took on punt return duties, he returned a punt in the season opener 69 yards for a score.

The Redskins cut Mitchell after the 1999 season, leading to bitter comments. But, around the start of this past season, he let owner Dan Snyder know through others that he wanted to retire as a Redskin. Snyder agreed. Mitchell said Gibbs' return last season helped this happen.

Mitchell will stay involved in football, working as an assistant general manager for the DC Divas of the National Women's Football Association.
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About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
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