Washington announces it is retiring Bobby Mitchell’s No. 49

Washington is retiring Bobby Mitchell’s No. 49

Bobby Mitchell’s No. 49 will join Sammy Baugh’s No. 33 as numbers retired by Washington, the team announced Saturday.

Mitchell, who came to the team from Cleveland and was the first African-American to play for Washington, will also have the lower bowl of Fedex Field named in his memory.

“There is no one more deserving of these honors than the late Bobby Mitchell,” Washington owner Daniel Snyder said in a statement. “Bobby was one of the most influential players not only in our team’s history, but in the National Football League. He excelled on the field, in the front office and most importantly in his community where he had a tremendous impact on the lives of so many through his charitable efforts. He was one of the greatest men I have ever known.”

Mitchell led the league in receiving in 1962 and 1963 and receptions in ’62. He was named to four Pro Bowls, three with Washington from 1962-64, and was a first-team All-Pro in ’62, when he hauled in 72 catches for 1,382 yards and 11 scores. Mitchell retired after the 1968 season with 1,034 touches, 10,689 yards from scrimmage and 83 total TDs. An electric return man, Mitchell also scored eight TDs on punt and kick returns during his career.

He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

Mitchell passed away April 5 of this year.

“This honor would have meant the world to him,” Mitchell’s daughter, Terri, said in a statement. “He would have been thrilled, appreciative and humbled. He felt that the retiring of a jersey is the ultimate recognition of an athlete. My father was a great family man who would have embraced this well-deserved recognition of his many accomplishments.”