The Washington Football Team will honor late franchise legend Bobby Mitchell when the team hosts the New York Giants at FedEx Field on Thursday night.
In a tribute that continues the legacy of equality and diversity that surrounded the life of Mitchell, the Washington Football Team will also host “Latinx Heritage Night” and its first-ever “Pride Night,” the team announced.
Presented by Telemundo 44, NBC Sports Washington, and NBC4, the team will honor former player and executive Mitchell, who died last year at age 84. His family will be on the field for a pregame ceremony to retire his number and officially rename the Main Concourse of FedEx Field in his honor. Players will wear helmet stickers that pay homage to Mitchell during the game.
“Bobby was a pioneer and trailblazer for equality and civil rights for our organization and football throughout his remarkable career,” said WFT President Jason Mitchell. “We look forward to celebrating Bobby and his significant contributions to our Club and sport during our Sept. 16 game and, with Bobby as our example, we will continue to push for equality within our organization, community and sports overall.”
Mitchell, who wore #49 and played for 11 years with the NFL beginning in 1958, was the team’s first African American player when he was traded to Washington in December 1961. He went on to have an illustrious career with the team, making three Pro Bowl appearances in seven seasons before spending more than three decades in the team’s front office serving as the assistant general manager during all three of the team’s Super Bowl runs.
He was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
