Former Texas A&M linebacker Keith Mitchell has died, the school and his family confirmed to Bryan-based KBTX-TV on Thursday. He was 51.
No cause of death was given, but his family told KBTX it was “sudden and unexpected.”
Mitchell was a standout at Garland Lakeview Centennial before joining the “Wrecking Crew” era Texas A&M defense. Mitchell amassed 14.5 sacks as a senior in College Station and totaled 34, fourth-most in program history, across four seasons (1993-96).
Despite his college statistics and a 1996 College Football News All-America nod, the undersized Mitchell went unselected in the 1997 NFL draft.
He extended his career as an undrafted free agent signee with the Saints and fashioned a nice five-year stint in New Orleans, which included a Pro Bowl selection in 2000. He played single seasons with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars before retiring with 94 career NFL games played, 416 tackles and 19.5 sacks.