NJCAA celebrates Black History Month Photo Gallery
Charlotte, NC - To honor and celebrate Black History Month, each Friday during the month of February, the NJCAA will highlight four former African-American student-athletes who seized their NJCAA opportunity, using it to build towards a revolutionizing career in athletics. To kick off the month-long series, the association will spotlight John Mitchell, former football student-athlete at Eastern Arizona who went on to play at Alabama under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, becoming the first African-American to play a game for the Crimson Tide.
A scholar in school, John Mitchell excelled in the classroom and possessed high academic standings. The Mobile, AL native played basketball and football at an all-black high school and senior year focused on his role as an offensive lineman. At 195 pounds and 6'3", many colleges thought Mitchell lacked size, but academically, he was offered scholarships by powerhouses Auburn (AL) and Alabama.
With a steadfast dream of playing Division I football, he decided to play two seasons at NJCAA member college Eastern Arizona. While there, Mitchell earned All-America honors in 1969 and 1970, put on weight while crafting his technique, and earned an associate's degree in social work. After a successful junior college campaign, he committed to Southern California under head coach John McKay.
Mitchell's talent caught the attention of many, but McKay's friend Paul "Bear" Bryant wanted the small-town kid on his team, and that's just what happened. Alabama did not possess any black student-athletes on its team at the time and to bring Mitchell on, especially as an Alabama native, was a game-changer for more than just the sport of football.
In 1971, along with Wilbur Jackson, Mitchell became the first African-American to play football for the Crimson Tide, starting in his first game where they beat Southern California 17-10. In his season in Tuscaloosa, Mitchell became the first African-American co-captain of the decorated program, and the next year, he became the team's first Aftrican-American assistant coach and youngest coach to have ever been hired at Alabama. His recruitment sparked change and it sparked a movement for African-American student-athletes like himself. Mitchell became the first black defensive coordinator in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and coached and recruited young men that chased a dream like he once did.
Today, in his 27th year as assistant head coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mitchell's 40-year coaching career has resulted in lasting relationships with football icons and coaching greats. Mitchell has coached teams that have won championships at both the college and professional levels, and he's developed football student-athletes into men and leaders.
The risks taken by Mitchell pivoted the world of football and the weight of his decision presented a world of opportunity and change. Not only was Alabama notorious for football success in the 1970s, but their leadership showed the intercollegiate sports community that all student-athletes deserve an equal opportunity to compete. Because of Mitchell's determination to chase academic and athletic success through opportunities at Eastern Arizona, countless doors have been opened and the standard for greatness was set.
In October 2020, Mitchell joined the NJCAA Network for a special interview to discuss his time as an NJCAA student-athlete, coaching career, and legacy in sports. Watch the full interview below.
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To view the full series, visit: NJCAA celebrates Black History Month: A Four-Week Series