PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A trailblazer as a college football player and the member of the Steelers coaching staff for nearly four decades is leaving.
Steelers announced assistant head coach John Mitchell is retiring after 50 years in football.
Bill Cowher hired Mitchell in 1994 as the defensive line coach. He was retained by Mike Tomlin in 2007 and given the title assistant head coach/defensive line until 2017. He’s been the team’s assistant head coach since 2018.
“I’m grateful to the Rooney family for the wonderful opportunity to coach and work for the Steelers for nearly 30 years,” said Mitchell in a statement released by the team. “It was truly an honor. I’d also like to thank Coach Tomlin for giving me the opportunity to stay with the franchise when Coach Cowher retired. I will treasure my time in Pittsburgh and appreciate everyone affiliated with the organization.”
“I’m not sure that I can offer sufficient praise and admiration for Mitch – as both a man and football coach,” said Head Coach Mike Tomlin in the same statement from the Steelers. “Mitch has been a central figure in the success of the Pittsburgh Steelers for nearly three decades. He has coached some of the best players in this franchise’s illustrious history, and each one of them, to a man, would tell you their success was a direct result of not only Mitch’s coaching acumen, but also his mentorship, leadership and character.”
“Those traits were most evident when he chose to attend the University of Alabama. Mitch’s path not only changed his life, but the lives of so many others. It’s impossible to truly measure his impact on the game, but I’m eternally grateful for the 16 years we worked together and wish him and Joyce the absolute best in retirement.”
“Coach Mitch has been a pivotal member of the Steelers organization, in a variety of roles, for the better part of 30 years,” said President Art Rooney II. “When you consider his path, as both a player and coach, Mitch created opportunities in football for young Black men that quite honestly didn’t previously exist. He has left an imprint on this franchise, and the sport and culture of football, that will continue well beyond his retirement.”
His Steelers players would rave about what they learned from Mitchell and his tough love. Among those he coached-Joel Steed, Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton, Brett Keisel, Chris Hoke, Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt and Javon Hargrave.
Mitchell coached previously with the Browns, in the USFL and in college. He started his career at his alma mater, coaching the defensive line for Bear Bryant at Alabama and then worked with Lou Holtz at Arkansas.
Mitchell was the first African-American to play for the University of Alabama starting 24 games in two seasons as the Crimson Tide won a pair of SEC championships. There is a plaque honoring Mitchell on a wall outside on Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.