Throughout his 14-year NFL career, former Washington running back Brian Mitchell made a name for himself as a punt return specialist. A pioneer at his position, Mitchell ranks second all-time in all-purpose yards behind Jerry Rice (23,546) with 23,330 yards, and holds the NFL records for yardage for kickoffs returned (14,014), punt return yards (4,999) and postseason kickoff return yards (875) across 223 career games. As a running back, Mitchell rushed for 1,967 yards on 388 carries and scored 29 touchdowns (four kickoff returns, nine punt returns, 12 rushing and four receiving).
It's easier to recount the ways Mitchell hasn't scored than the ways he has. Other than earning his team points by kicking a field goal, the only thing missing from Mitchell's storied career is a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the newest episode of Command Center, Mitchell joins Santana Moss, Fred Smoot and Logan Paulsen to analyze his gold jacket snub.
"We shouldn't have to have this conversation," Smoot started. "Especially when you're talking about somebody that kind of designed the position of a return man to bring it to the level it's at because, when you talk about a return man, you start with the B-Mitch's of the world."
The group analyzed Mitchell's stats and compared them to those of Devin Hester, the only returner whose bust is enshrined in Canton. While the Chicago Bears wide receiver had a Hall of Fame worthy career, he falls behind Mitchell's stats in nearly every category, which begs the question: why was Hester inducted before Mitchell?
Moss suggests recency bias and media relevancy as the likely culprit for the snub, noting the push for Hester's induction by former players.
"I don't know how many times I watched NFL Network and saw Deion Sanders talking about how Devin Hester should be wearing a yellow jacket," Moss said. "I think that gave him that favorable push to which now you see us as an organization saying, 'Let's get behind our guys.' Let's get behind the Joe Jacoby's, let's get behind the Brian Mitchell's. Let's make sure we petition and speak about these guys who are deserving because if the masses are going to forget about them, we're not.
"We're going to push so we can make sure that they hear us or get back in and look at the numbers," Moss added.
Smoot agrees with Moss and goes a step further, arguing that Hall of Fame voters are forgetting about players like Mitchell, who retired in 2003, in favor of those who retired more recently. Smoot believes this practice is turning the Hall of Fame into a "Hall of New Names."
"It feels like if your name is not new, you forget about the past," Smoot said.
"If you don't do it right in front of them, they don't ever look back," Mitchell added.
With a stronger focus on accomplishments from players of the past, the Command Center group argues the Hall of Fame would be more comprehensive and inclusive of the best in football. The argument for Mitchell's induction is clear, and he has had a lasting impact on the game; he did the work, now it's up to the Hall of Fame to recognize it.
The Command Center is the official podcast of the Washington Commanders. To listen to Brian Mitchell's full episode of Command Center, head to commanders.com.
