Donald Mitchell (American football)

Donald Roosevelt Mitchell (born December 14, 1976 in Beaumont, Texas) is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Southern Methodist University.

Donald Mitchell
No. 30
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1976-12-14) December 14, 1976
Beaumont, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:182 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school:Beaumont Central (TX)
College:Southern Methodist
NFL Draft:1999 / Round: 4 / Pick: 117
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:44
Games started:12
Interceptions:2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Mitchell attended Beaumont Central High School. He played cornerback and was an All-District selection as a senior. He also practiced track and baseball.

He accepted a football scholarship from Southern Methodist University. As a sophomore, he started 6 games at cornerback. As a junior, he became a regular starter at cornerback, collecting 45 tackles and 3 interceptions.

As a senior, he registered 74 tackles, 16 passes defensed, 3 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles. He had 13 tackles against the University of Mississippi. He finished his college career after starting 26 out of 41 games, while making 160 tackles, 6 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and 4 forced fumbles.

Professional career

Tennessee Titans

Mitchell was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft.[1] As a rookie, he earned the position of nickel back and appeared in all 16 games, tallying 7 tackles, one pass defensed, 19 special teams tackles (fourth on the team), one blocked kick and one returned interception for a touchdown. The Titans would eventually make it to Super Bowl XXXIV, where they lost to the Kurt Warner-led St. Louis Rams.[2]

In 2000, he suffered a torn right ACL during a practice and was placed on the injured reserve list on August 22.[3][4] In 2001, he appeared in 12 contests, missing the final 4 games with a sprained right knee, while making 25 tackles, 4 passes defensed, 13 special teams tackles and one blocked kick.

In 2002, he started 9 games at right cornerback in place on an injured Samari Rolle and was able to play through ankle and knee injuries.[5] He posted 51 tackles, one interception, 8 passes defensed, 2 quarterback pressures, 11 special teams tackles, 3 recovered fumbles and one forced fumble. In February 2003, he underwent arthroscopic surgery in one of his ankles. During his time with the Titans he was also a core special teams player.

Dallas Cowboys

On March 20, 2003, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys, with the intention of playing him at the nickel back position.[6] He suffered a serious left high ankle sprain in the final preseason game against the Oakland Raiders and was placed on the injured reserve list on August 31.[7] He was released on August 31, 2004.[8][9]

References
  1. "1999 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  2. "Super Bowl XXXIV Team Rosters". sportspool.com. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  3. "Pickens Is Added To Titans' Arsenal". Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  4. "Transactions". Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  5. "Mitchell To Start In Place Of Rolle". Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  6. "After Losing Coles, Jets Sign Conway To Three-year Deal". Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  7. "Setting Roster Intrigues, Infuriates Cowboys' Parcells". Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  8. "Baltimore Signs Sanders For Depth In Secondary". Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  9. "Cowboys release nine, put DiNapoli on PUP list". August 31, 2004. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
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