Keith Mitchell NFL linebacker and former New Orleans Saints standout has died at 51. His death closes the book on a career that ran from undrafted signee to Pro Bowl defender, then into wellness work after football.
New Orleans Saints and Mitchell
Mitchell signed with the Saints in 1997 out of Texas A&M and became both a starter and a special teams force. He played five seasons in New Orleans, finishing with 272 solo tackles and 20 tackles for loss.
His best season came in 2000, when the Saints won the NFC West Division title and then picked up the first playoff win in franchise history. Mitchell had three tackles and a sack of Kurt Warner in the 31-28 victory against the St. Louis Rams in the NFC Wild Card playoffs. He also returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown in a 21-10 win against the Arizona Cardinals and a fumble 90 yards for a touchdown in a 20-10 win against the Carolina Panthers.
Texas A&M and the Wrecking Crew
Before the NFL, Mitchell was part of Texas A&M's Wrecking Crew defense from 1993 to 1996. He earned All-Southwest Conference honors in 1995, then added All-Big 12 and College Football News All-America recognition in 1996.
He is one of just eight linebackers in Saints franchise history to make the Pro Bowl. That places him in a narrow group from an era when the Saints were still building the team that would eventually break through in the NFC West Division.
On Sept 14 2003
His playing career ended after a routine tackle on Sept. 14, 2003, left him flat on his back and unable to move. He had a spinal contusion, and the change from player to post-football advocate came later.
Mitchell later became a certified yoga instructor with more than a decade of experience. He founded the Light It Up Foundation and the KM59 wellness movement, turning his recovery into work that reached beyond the NFL. What caused his death at 51 was not stated.
