Washington Football Team to Honor Former RB Bobby Mitchell in their Season Opener

The Washington Football Team will honor their fallen former running back Bobby Mitchell by wearing a patch on their jerseys with Mitchell’s jersey number 49 when they play their season opener tomorrow against the Philadelphia Eagles. Mitchell passed away on April 5th at the age of 84.

Bobby Mitchell holds the distinction of being the first black player to sign with the Washington Football Team.

Bobby Mitchell played in the NFL from 1958-1968 spending his final seven seasons with the Washington Football Team. He totaled 7,954 receiving yards and 65 receiving touchdowns for his career as well as 2,735 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. He also scored five touchdowns on kick returns and three on punt returns.

He was selected to four Pro Bowls including an All-Pro selection in the 1962 season. In 1983, Bobby was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in a class that included former Washington Football Team quarterback Sonny Jurgensen.

Following his retirement, Bobby Mitchell continued to work with the Washington Football as a pro scout and an assistant general manager respectively from 1969-2003.

Mitchell is a member of the Washington Football Team’s Ring of Fame and was named one of the 70 Greatest Players in the franchise’s history to celebrate the team’s 70-year anniversary in 2002.

In June, the Washington Football Team announced they will retire Bobby Mitchell’s number 49 jersey number. This will make him one of only two players in Washington Football Team History to have his jersey officially retired (Sammy Baugh).

On Sunday we will honor the late Bobby Mitchell by wearing a No. 49 patch on our jerseys 🙏 pic.twitter.com/XlgKVAFT5g

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 11, 2020