John Mitchell, Jr.

John Mitchell, Jr. was born in Mobile, Alabama on October 14, 1951. In 1971, he became the first African American to play varsity football for the University of Alabama. In his second season he became the team’s first African American co-captain. At age 21, he accepted a coaching position at the University of Alabama and became the first African American assistant coach and the youngest coach to have ever been hired at Alabama.

Mitchell played football and basketball at Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama. In his senior year he played on the offensive line and although he was tall enough, standing 6 feet 3 inches, he only weighed 195 pounds, which was considered too light for an offensive lineman in Division I Football. Consequently, he was not offered a football scholarship by any major colleges in Alabama, but he was offered an academic scholarship to both the University of Alabama and Auburn University. Wanting to play football, he eventually accepted a scholarship from Eastern Arizona Junior College.

After two seasons at Eastern Arizona and being named to the All-American team both years as a defensive end, Mitchell was one of the top junior college recruits and was heavily recruited by several Division I football powerhouses. In 1971, he transferred to the University of Alabama and became a starting defensive end. In 1972, he earned All-American honors on the gridiron, but even more importantly he earned his bachelor’s degree.

Mitchell’s first two coaching assignments were on the staff of two of college football’s greatest coaches. He was a defensive line coach under “Bear” Bryant at Alabama (1973-76) and he held the same position at Arkansas (1977-82) under Lou Holtz. In 1983, he returned to the state of Alabama when he accepted the position of defensive line coach for the United States Football League (USFL) Birmingham Stallions. After three seasons the USFL ceased operations and he returned to the college football ranks. In 1990, he became the first African American defensive coordinator in the Southeastern Conference when he accepted the position at Louisiana State University.

Mitchell joined the National Football League (NFL) coaching ranks in 1991, when he became the defensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns. In 1994, he joined the Pittsburg Steelers’ organization as their defensive line coach and after 20 seasons he still remains a Steeler. Under Mitchell’s leadership, Pittsburgh’s defensive line helped the Steelers lead the NFL in rush defense five times and finish in the top three on 13 separate occasions. In 2007, he was promoted to assistant head coach/defensive line coach.

Mitchell has been a football coach for over 40 years. In 2009, he was elected into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Mitchell and his wife, Joyce, currently reside in Pittsburgh.