Commanders season opener in 49 days: Washington’s best No. 49

49 days until Week 1, honoring the great Bobby Mitchell.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 49 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 49?

There have only been nine players to have worn No. 49 in Washington NFL history. You see, when Bobby Mitchell, the Hall of Fame receiver for the Browns and then Redskins retired just prior to the 1969 season, No. 49 was then unofficially made off-limits.

It was not until 2002 that TE Leonard Stephens was given the jersey No. 49. Stephens only appeared in five games, catching only one pass. According to Mitchell, some close to him, as family and friends, were very upset about Stephens having been given the jersey number.

Steve Spurrier was coach at the time, and understandably, no one in the front office had made it clear to him what some of the retired numbers were that were “unofficially” retired.  When it was brought to his attention, Spurrier apologized, and the team issued a statement of apology.

Mitchell is no doubt the greatest player to wear No. 49 for Washington.  He spent seven seasons with Washington (1962-68) following his four seasons with the Browns (1958-61). When injury forced his retirement, Mitchell had been a Pro Bowler for the Browns (1960) and for the Redskins (1962, 1963, 1964). He was All-Pro 1st team (1962) and All-Pro 2nd team (1964).

Mitchell was the 1962 NFL leader in receptions (72), reception yardage (1,384), and reception yards per game (98.9). The following season he was the NFL leader in reception yardage (1,436) and reception yards per game (102.6). In 1964 his ten touchdown receptions led the NFL.

Mitchell was voted as one of the 70 Greatest Redskins in 2002, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the 1983 class with Sonny Jurgensen, worked in the Redskins personnel department beginning in 1969, and was named assistant General Manager to Bobby Beathard in 1981 and Charley Casserly in 1990.

Mitchell was too often referred to as the first black player in Redskins history. That is not technically correct. Actually, in 1962 for the season opener, Washington had three black players on their squad: Mitchell, Leroy Jackson and John Nisby.

Even more, Mitchell did not like that designation defining him. In Mark Maske’s fine story in 2003 Mitchell made it clear he wanted to be known more as a great NFL player.

“I have to live with people always talking about me as the first black player against all my exploits,” Mitchell said. “I’ve always been very upset that people always start with that. I don’t want to hear that, and yet I have to hear it constantly and it overshadows everything I’ve done in the game.”

Mitchell retired in 2003 after 41 seasons with Washington as a player, scout and front-office executive. The franchise officially has now retired Mitchell’s No. 49. Mitchell died on April 5, 2020, at age 84.