Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #70: Stump Mitchell

Stump Mitchell

 Teams

Saint Louis/Phoenix Cardinals (1981-1989)

Playoffs

Appearances - 1 (1982)

Conf Champ Games - 0

Super Bowls - 0

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #24

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#9-1987)

Rushing Touchdowns (#8-1984)

Yards per Rush (#1-1985, #4-1986, #10-1988)

Rushing Yards per Game (#8-1987)

Total Touchdowns (#10-1984)

Scrimmage Yards (#5-1987)

Yards per Touch (#2-1984, #3-1985)

After having the second-most rushing yards in the nation as a senior at Citadel, Stump Mitchell was drafted by the Saint Louis Cardinals in the 9th round of the 1981 NFL Draft.

In his early years with the Cardinals, Mitchell was used mostly for returning kicks. As a rookie he led the league in kickoff return yards with 1292. He saw limited action as a running back in his first 4 seasons, but he was effective when he did carry the ball, averaging at least 4.8 yards per carry in each of those 4 seasons.

During the 1985 season, he was transitioned to playing running back full time by the end of the season, and he responded with his best season, gaining 1006 rushing yards, plus another 502 through the air, while leading the league with 5.5 yards per carry.

He spent the next 4 years as the Cardinals' starting running back, though his production wasn't quite as good as in his breakout year, but he still averaged more yards per carry than most other runners in the league all the way through. He retired after the 1989 season once injuries started to slow him down.

After his playing career, he became a coach, usually specializing in coaching running backs, and has been on the staff of 5 different NFL teams, and has also been a college and high school head coach over the past 35 years.

Mitchell's greatness was less about his volume, and more about his efficiency. He always gained more yardage than average throughout his career, and his per carry average is still in the top 25 of all time. He was able to transition that talent and knowledge into a second successful career, but should still be remembered for what he did on the field, where he was one of the best to do it.