Jim Mitchell (tight end)
{{Short description|American football player (1947–2007)}}
{{for|the defensive lineman|Jim Mitchell (defensive lineman)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jim Mitchell
| image = Mitchell-Jim-1972.jpg
| caption = Mitchell in 1972
| position = Tight end
| number = 86
| birth_date = {{birth date|1947|10|19}}
| birth_place = Shelbyville, Tennessee, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2007|10|20|1947|10|19}}
| death_place = Shelbyville, Tennessee, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 234
| high_school = Harris (TN)
| college = Prairie View A&M
| draftyear = 1969
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 81
| pastteams =
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|1969}}–{{NFL Year|1979}})
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 155
| statlabel2 = Starts
| statvalue2 = 155
| statlabel3 = Receptions
| statvalue3 = 305
| statlabel4 = Receiving yards
| statvalue4 = 4,358
| statlabel5 = Touchdowns
| statvalue5 = 28
| pfr = MitcJi00
}}
James Robert Mitchell (October 19, 1947 – October 20, 2007) was an American professional football player who was a tight end for 11 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League (NFL).{{cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerm/mitc04000.html|title=Jim Mitchell NFL Stats and Bio|website=profootballarchives.com|access-date=May 30, 2023}} He was selected as a member of the Pro Bowl following his 1969 rookie season and again in 1972.
Biography
Jim Mitchell was born October 19, 1947, in Shelbyville, Tennessee .
Mitchell attended Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas, where he was a two sport athlete. An all-conference split end on the football team, Mitchell also pitched and played first base for the school baseball team.Tom Bennett, 1972 Atlanta Falcons (media guide). Atlanta, GA: Atlanta Falcons Football Club, 1972; p. 34.
Mitchell was drafted in the 4th round of the 1969 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, who made him the 81st pick of the draft. During his rookie season the big tight end caught 22 passes for 339 yards, scoring 4 touchdowns—sufficient to win him a place on the 1969 Pro Bowl team.[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1969/probowl.htm "1969 NFL Pro Bowlers,"] Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com/
He nearly doubled his production during his second season with the team, catching 44 balls for 650 yards and 6 touchdowns. Although the Falcons were a poor team in these years, Mitchell emerged as an offensive star and team leader and he was named captain of the Falcons offense in 1971.
Mitchell was again named to the NFL Pro Bowl team in 1972.
After leaving the NFL, Mitchell coached football at Morehouse College and Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, supporting the tradition of college football at historically black colleges and universities.
Mitchell died on October 20, 2007, in Shelbyville, Tennessee, at the age of 60.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-oct-23-me-passings23.s2-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|title=Jim Mitchell, 60; former Atlanta Falcon tight end on Pro Bowl teams twice, passes away|access-date=October 23, 2007}}
==Personal life==
Mitchell's son, Brandon Hodges, played football at Bethune-Cookman University.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.t-g.com/story/1285788.html Death Notice] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211012131/http://www.t-g.com/story/1285788.html |date=December 11, 2007 }}
- {{Find a Grave|22329843|Jim Mitchell}}
{{Atlanta Falcons 1969 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, JIm}}
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players
Category:People from Shelbyville, Tennessee