Anthony Mitchell (American football)

Anthony Maurice Mitchell (born December 13, 1974) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tuskegee Golden Tigers and was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 1999.

Anthony Mitchell

No. 42
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	(1974-12-13) December 13, 1974 (age 50) Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:	Westlake (Atlanta, Georgia)
College:	Tuskegee
NFL draft:	1999: undrafted
Career history
Jacksonville Jaguars (1999)* Baltimore Ravens (1999–2002) Jacksonville Jaguars (2003) Cincinnati Bengals (2004–2006)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XXXV)
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 160 Interceptions: 3 Sacks: 1.0 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Professional career

Mitchell was originally signed as an undrafted rookie by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1999,^[1] but after the preseason, he was waived in the final cuts. He spent most of the 1999 season on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad and was elevated to the 53-man roster for the final four games.^[2]

Mitchell is best remembered for his play as a reserve safety on the 2000 Ravens squad that made an improbable run to Super Bowl XXXV. In a pivotal January 2001 playoff game played in Nashville, Baltimore was tied 10–10 with the Tennessee Titans early in the fourth quarter. With just over 12 minutes remaining in the game, Titans kicker Al Del Greco lined up for a potential game-winning 37-yard field goal from the right hash. At the snap, Baltimore defensive lineman Keith Washington bullrushed the Titans lineman defending him, losing his helmet in the process; undeterred, Washington stretched out his right arm over his head, deflecting Del Greco's kick high into the air. Mitchell snatched the tipped ball out of the air at the Ravens' 10-yard line, raced up the far sideline and, with the help of blocks thrown by backup safety Corey Harris and starting cornerback Chris McAlister, returned the ball 90 yards for a Baltimore touchdown.^[3] Mitchell's return catapulted the Ravens to a 24–10 win and set them on the path to their first world championship.^[4][5]

In 2003, the Jaguars acquired Mitchell from the Ravens in a trade for a conditional draft choice. After playing one season with the Jaguars, Mitchell spent his final three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.

NFL career statistics

Legend
	Won the Super Bowl
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Tackles				Interceptions					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	Int	Yds	Avg	TD	PD	FF	FR	TD
1999	BAL	0	0	did not play
2000	BAL	16	0	15	13	2	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
2001	BAL	16	0	23	18	5	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2002	BAL	16	6	53	34	19	0.0	3	62	20.7	0	3	0	0	0
2003	JAX	16	2	20	18	2	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2004	CIN	12	0	19	13	6	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
2005	CIN	16	0	30	22	8	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2006	CIN	0	0	did not play due to injury
Career		92	8	160	118	42	1.0	3	62	20.7	0	3	0	2	0

Postseason

Year	Team	Games		Tackles				Interceptions					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	Int	Yds	Avg	TD	PD	FF	FR	TD
2000	BAL	4	0	2	2	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2001	BAL	2	0	5	3	2	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2005	CIN	1	0	1	1	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career		7	0	8	6	2	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

In a 2000 postseason game against the Tennessee Titans, Mitchell returned a blocked field goal 90 yards for a touchdown.^[3]

Personal life

Mitchell's son, Keaton Mitchell, played running back at East Carolina University before he too was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent before the 2023 season.