For the second time in franchise history, the Washington Redskins are retiring a number.
The team announced Saturday it will display Bobby Mitchell’s No. 49 jersey in the rafters and will rename the lower level of FedExField in his honor. The lower bowl of the stadium had previously been named after former owner George Preston Marshall, whose memorial outside RFK Stadium was removed on Friday.
Mitchell played for Washington from 1962-1968 and was a three-time All-Pro wide receiver. The Hall of Famer was the first Black player in franchise history, 16 years after the NFL began integration. He died on April 5 at the age of 84.
“Bobby was our Jackie Robinson. He had to handle the pressure of being the first African-American football player to integrate the Washington Redskins. He, like Jackie, was a military officer headquartered in the D.C. area when he received notice of his trade,” former Redskins safety Brig Owens said in a statement released by the team.
The only other number retired in team history is No. 33, which belonged to Sammy Baugh.
Mitchell began his career with the Cleveland Browns, who drafted him in the seventh round in 1958. For the next four seasons, he teamed with Jim Brown in the Cleveland backfield and was also a prolific receiver.
Following the 1961 season, Mitchell was included in one of the NFL’s most famous trades. Marshall had prevented integration in his organization, but the federal government — led by then-Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy — pressured him to do so. Marshall’s plan was to draft running back Ernie Davis out of Syracuse, but Davis refused to play for Marshall. So the Browns and Redskins struck a deal to send Mitchell to the nation’s capital.
In his seven seasons with Wa, Mitchell caught 393 passes for 6,492 yards with 49 touchdowns. Among his career accomplishments is a 99-yard touchdown catch, still tied for longest of all time. Following his retirement, he transitioned into the organization’s front office at the request of then-coach Vince Lombardi. He worked for the team until 2002.
“There is no one more deserving of these honors than the late Bobby Mitchell. Bobby was one of the most influential players not only in our team’s history, but in the National Football League,” Washington owner Dan Snyder said in a statement. “… He was one of the greatest men I have ever known.”
