Bobby Mitchell Biography

Robert Cornelius Mitchell, born June 6, 1935, was an American professional football player who competed as a halfback and wide receiver in the National Football League. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and later competed professionally for the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins. In 1962, he became the first black player to sign with the Washington Redskins, a team that had been the last in the NFL to racially integrate. After retiring from playing, Mitchell served in an executive role with the Washington football organization. He chose to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign instead of pursuing professional baseball, despite receiving scholarship offers from multiple schools. During a game against Michigan, he entered in the third quarter and gained 173 yards on 10 carries, contributing to a 25–6 victory for the Illini. He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 1955 and second-team recognition in 1957.