Kevin Mitchell

Kevin Danyelle Mitchell (January 1, 1971 – April 30, 2007) was an American professional football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He played for the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, and Washington Redskins.

College career Mitchell played college football at Syracuse University as a defensive tackle. He was the Defensive MVP of the 1993 Fiesta Bowl upset of Colorado where Mitchell had eight tackles, including six behind the line of scrimmage.

Professional career Mitchell was selected in the 1994 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round with the 53rd overall pick. He won Super Bowl XXIX in his rookie season with the 49ers. He played three more seasons with the 49ers. He signed with the New Orleans Saints after the 1997 NFL season. He played with the Saints for two seasons. Mitchell joined the Washington Redskins after the 1999 NFL season and played for them until after the 2003 NFL season.

Mitchell's best season came in 2001 NFL season when he recorded 82 tackles (69 solo), 2 sacks, and one forced fumble in 13 games.

In his career, he recorded 300 tackles (243 solo), 6.5 sacks, two interceptions for seven yards, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and six pass deflections in 144 regular season games.

NFL statistics Year Team Game Combined tackles Tackles Assisted tackles Sacks Forced rumbles Fumble recoveries Fumble Return Yards Interceptions Interception Return Yards Yards per Interception Return Longest Interception Return Interceptions Returned for Touchdown Passes Defended 1994 SF 16 7 6 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1995 SF 15 7 4 3 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1996 SF 12 16 15 1 1.0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1997 SF 16 9 4 5 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1998 NO 8 45 23 22 2.5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1999 NO 16 15 14 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2000 WSH 16 5 4 1 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2001 WSH 13 81 68 13 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2002 WSH 16 35 26 9 0.0 0 0 0 1 7 7 7 0 1 2003 WSH 16 7 6 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Career 144 227 170 57 6.5 4 1 0 2 7 4 7 0 6

Death On April 30, 2007, Mitchell was found dead in his sleep in Ashburn, Virginia. According to a preliminary autopsy, he died of a massive heart attack.

Friends and family close to Mitchell said the cause of death was related to sleep apnea.