Earl Mitchell

{{Short description|American football player (born 1987)}} {{Use American English|date=September 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Earl Mitchell | image = Earl Mitchell 2012.JPG | caption = Mitchell with the Houston Texans in 2012 | current_team = | number = 92, 90, 93 | position = Defensive tackle | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|9|25|mf=y}} | birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lbs = 310 | high_school = North Shore (Houston) | college = Arizona (2006–2009) | draftyear = 2010 | draftround = 3 | draftpick = 81 | pastteams = * Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2010}}–{{NFL Year|2013}}) * Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2016}}) * San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2017}}–{{NFL Year|2018}}) * Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2019}})* * San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2019}}) | highlights = * Second-team All-Pac-10 (2009) | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 267 | statlabel2 = Sacks | statvalue2 = 6.5 | statlabel3 = Forced fumbles | statvalue3 = 1 | statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue4 = 3 | statlabel5 = Pass deflections | statvalue5 = 9 | pfr = MitcEa99 }}

'''Earl Mitchell''' (born September 25, 1987) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats.

==College career== Mitchell attended the University of Arizona from 2006 to 2009.

==Professional career==

===Houston Texans=== Mitchell was selected by the Houston Texans in the third round (81st overall) of the 2010 NFL draft.<ref>[http://www.azcentral.com/sports/ua/articles/2010/04/23/20100423houston-texans-draft-earl-mitchell.html?nclick_check=1 Houston Texans draft Arizona's Earl Mitchell with 81st pick in NFL draft]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2010 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2010/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Miami Dolphins=== On March 11, 2014, he was signed by the Miami Dolphins to a four-year, $16 million contract including $9 million guaranteed.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/10590627/branden-albert-earl-mitchell-agree-deals-miami-dolphins Dolphins add Albert, Earl Mitchell]</ref>

On September 13, 2016, Mitchell was placed on injured reserve.<ref>{{cite web|title=PRESS RELEASE: Dolphins Make Roster Moves|url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/press-releases/article-1/PRESS-RELEASE-Dolphins-Make-Roster-Moves/11be2dbb-cb04-4266-bee8-bc8a7c2456c9|website=MiamiDolphins.com|access-date=September 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118082045/http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/press-releases/article-1/PRESS-RELEASE-Dolphins-Make-Roster-Moves/11be2dbb-cb04-4266-bee8-bc8a7c2456c9|archive-date=November 18, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was activated off injured reserve to the active roster on November 10, 2016, prior to Week 10.<ref>{{cite web|title=PRESS RELEASE: Dolphins Activate Mitchell Off Injured Reserve|url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/press-releases/article-1/PRESS-RELEASE-Dolphins-Activate-Mitchell-Off-Injured-Reserve/29c23dbb-7d2f-418a-bbc7-14d2e5f2a43b|date=November 10, 2016|website=MiamiDolphins.com}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On February 17, 2017, Mitchell was released by the Dolphins.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dolphins Make Roster Moves|url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/press-releases/article-1/Dolphins-Make-Roster-Moves/2a6f0d6f-dd0d-4c54-a0d3-388ab4813c66|website=MiamiDolphins.com|date=February 16, 2017|access-date=February 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217143708/http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/press-releases/article-1/Dolphins-Make-Roster-Moves/2a6f0d6f-dd0d-4c54-a0d3-388ab4813c66|archive-date=February 17, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===San Francisco 49ers (first stint)=== On February 24, 2017, Mitchell signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Earl Mitchell signing with Niners on 4-year, $16M deal|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/earl-mitchell-signs-with-niners-on-4-year-16m-deal-0ap3000000787861|author=Hagemann, Andie|website=NFL.com|access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref> In his first season in San Francisco, Mitchell started all 16 games, recording 33 combined tackles, one sack, and a career-high four passes defensed.

On January 23, 2019, the 49ers declined the two-year option on Mitchell's contract, making him a free agent in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Report: 49ers won't pick up Earl Mitchell's option|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/01/23/report-49ers-wont-pick-up-earl-mitchells-option/|author=Alper, Josh|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=January 23, 2019}}</ref>

===Seattle Seahawks=== On July 24, 2019, Mitchell was signed by the Seattle Seahawks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Seahawks Make Roster Moves Prior To Start Of Training Camp|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-make-roster-moves-prior-to-start-of-training-camp|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=July 24, 2019}}</ref> He was released on August 31, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Seahawks Make Roster Moves, Establish 53-Man Roster|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-make-roster-moves-establish-53-man-roster|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=August 31, 2019}}</ref>

On November 7, 2019, Mitchell announced his retirement from the NFL.<ref>{{cite web|title=Earl Mitchell announces retirement|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/11/07/earl-mitchell-announces-retirement/|author=Williams, Charean|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=November 7, 2019}}</ref>

===San Francisco 49ers (second stint)=== On January 1, 2020, Mitchell came out of retirement and signed with the 49ers.<ref>{{cite web|title=49ers Sign DL Earl Mitchell, Waive DB Antone Exum Jr.|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-earl-mitchell-waive-antone-exum-jr|website=49ers.com|date=January 1, 2020}}</ref> Mitchell reached Super Bowl LIV with 49ers, but lost 31–20 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Mitchell recorded 1 tackle and 0.5 sacks in the Super Bowl.

===NFL statistics=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Year !! Team !! {{tooltip|GP|Games played}} !! {{tooltip|COMB|Combined tackles}} !! {{tooltip|TOTAL|Total tackles}} !! {{tooltip|AST|Assisted tackles}} !! {{tooltip|SACK|Sacks}} !! {{tooltip|FF|Forced fumbles}} !! {{tooltip|FR|Fumble recoveries}} !! {{tooltip|FR YDS|Fumble return yards}} !! {{tooltip|INT|Interceptions}} !! {{tooltip|IR YDS|Interception return yards}} !! {{tooltip|AVG IR|Average interception return}} !! {{tooltip|LNG|Longest interception return}} !! {{tooltip|TD|Interceptions returned for touchdown}} !! {{tooltip|PD|Passes defensed}} |- ! 2010 || HOU | 15 || 28 || 18 || 10 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2011 || HOU | 16 || 27 || 14 || 13 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- ! 2012 || HOU | 16 || 31 || 19 || 12 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 |- ! 2013 || HOU | 16 || 48 || 30 || 18 || 1.5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2014 || MIA | 16 || 33 || 21 || 11 || 2.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 |- ! 2015 || MIA | 12 || 22 || 14 || 8 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2016 || MIA | 9 || 17 || 11 || 6 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2017 || SF | 16 || 33 || 19 || 14 || 1.0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 |- ! 2018 || SF | 14 || 28 || 17 || 11 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- class="sortbottom" ! colspan="2" | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MitcEa99.htm Career] || 130 || 268 || 164 || 104 || 6.5 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 9 |}

== Personal life == Mitchell was born and raised in Houston, moving around with his mom, who separated from his dad. His grandma sometimes provided a home for him in the Trinity Garden neighborhood, but she died when Mitchell was 14 and Mitchell's dad died during his senior year in college.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texans/article/Grandma-s-life-lessons-serve-Texans-Mitchell-well-3868689.php|title=Grandma's life lessons serve Texans' Mitchell well|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|access-date=February 16, 2017}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons}} *[http://www.miamidolphins.com/team/roster/Earl-Mitchell/05583ef4-084c-4ba8-b5a8-6a9b21b35a67 Miami Dolphins bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313014254/http://www.miamidolphins.com/team/roster/Earl-Mitchell/05583ef4-084c-4ba8-b5a8-6a9b21b35a67 |date=March 13, 2014 }} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140312002853/http://www.arizonawildcats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30700&ATCLID=207988469 Arizona Wildcats bio]

{{Texans2010DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Earl}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Houston Category:American football defensive tackles Category:Arizona Wildcats football players Category:Houston Texans players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Miami Dolphins players Category:North Shore Senior High School (Texas) alumni Category:San Francisco 49ers players Category:Seattle Seahawks players