Former New Orleans Saints linebacker Keith Mitchell has died, according to a report by KBTX-TV in Bryan, Texas. He was 51.
Mitchell arrived in New Orleans in 1997 as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M and turned that opportunity into a long run as both a starter and a special teams force. His Saints career stretched across five seasons, from 1997 to 2001, and he piled up 272 solo tackles, including 20 tackles for loss.
His biggest year came in 2000, when he helped power a Saints team that won the NFC West Division title and delivered the first playoff victory in franchise history. In New Orleans’ 31-28 win over the St. Louis Rams in the NFC Wild Card playoffs, Mitchell finished with three tackles and a sack of Rams quarterback Kurt Warner.
That same season also produced two of his most memorable scores. He returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown in a 21-10 win against the Arizona Cardinals and later took a fumble 90 yards for a touchdown in a 20-10 win against the Carolina Panthers.
Mitchell is one of just eight linebackers in Saints franchise history to make the Pro Bowl. After his time in New Orleans, he spent one year each with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars to close out his NFL career.
Before reaching the league, Mitchell was a key part of Texas A&M’s famed “Wrecking Crew” defense from 1993-96. He earned All-Southwest Conference honors in 1995 and was an All-Big 12 selection and College Football News All-America selection in 1996.
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