Washington Redskins: 15 greatest running backs in franchise history

If Brian Mitchell was a pure running back, and his exploits matched their current magnitude, then he would be ranked higher on this list.

As a true running back, Mitchell only eclipsed 300 yards in a season twice. He took snaps at running back in 223 games, but only started 16, good for one total season’s worth. Throughout his entire career, Mitchell logged 1,967 yards and 12 touchdowns on 388 carries. Some Redskins backs have come close to matching those numbers in one season.

Mitchell is a marginal inclusion on this list, based on his rushing exploits alone, but that wasn’t where he made his money, anyway. Where Mitchell made his money was in the return game, where he was one of the NFL’s most electric special teams playmakers year-in and year-out.

With 13 total return touchdowns and over 19,000 total return yards, Mitchell set himself apart as one of the most consistently explosive return threats of his decade. He earned a Pro Bowl berth and an All-Pro bid in 1995 for his accomplishments.

By the end of his career, he was second place in NFL history in all-purpose yards, with over 23,000. Even today, his second-place number still stands, behind only Jerry Rice and ahead of the likes of Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith.

Yeah, Mitchell wasn’t a pure running back. But he didn’t need to be.