Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers assistant John Mitchell retires after 29 years

Steelers assistant head coach John Mitchell will retire after 29 seasons in Pittsburgh, the team announced Wednesday. Mitchell was a pioneer in his playing days as the first Black football player to see the field at Alabama, where he played defensive end under legendary coach Bear Bryant in 1971 and 1972.

Mitchell first joined the Steelers staff in 1994 as a defensive line coach. He added the title of assistant head coach when Mike Tomlin took over as head coach in 2007. He was a part of two Super Bowls with the team in the 2005 and 2008 seasons.

“I’m grateful to the Rooney family for the wonderful opportunity to coach and work for the Steelers for nearly 30 years,” Mitchell said in a statement. “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.”

A Mobile, Alabama native, Mitchell started 24 games across his college career with the Crimson Tide. He was named an All-American in 1972 before being selected to the San Francisco 49ers in the 1973 NFL Draft. However, he never played a game in the pros after the team cut him prior to the start of the season.

Mitchell returned to Alabama after being cut with the intent of pursuing a law degree but quickly changed his course after Bryant offered him a job as defensive ends coach. That was the beginning of a 50-year career in coaching for John Mitchell, who also spent three seasons working under Bill Belichick on the Cleveland Browns from 1991-93 prior to joining the Steelers.

During Mitchell’s 24 seasons as the Steelers defensive line coach, the defense ranked in the top 10 against the run 17 times, with five of those 17 being No. 1 overall. He has developed players such as Casey Hampton, Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt during his time in Pittsburgh.

“Coach Mitch has been a pivotal member of the Steelers organization, in a variety of roles, for the better part of 30 years,” team president Art Rooney II said in a statement. “When you consider his path, both as 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.”