Keith Mitchell, an All-American linebacker at Texas A&M and a Pro Bowl selection in the NFL, has died at the age of 51. His death was confirmed by the athletic department at his alma mater. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Mitchell was a key figure on Texas A&M's "wrecking crew" defense from 1993 to 1996. Despite concerns about his size, he went undrafted in 1997 but signed with the New Orleans Saints. He quickly became a starter and earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2000. He later played for the Houston Texans in 2002 and the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003 before his NFL career concluded prematurely due to surgery for a spinal contusion.
Following his football career, Mitchell turned to yoga and mindfulness, which he credited with saving his life and enabling his recovery. "Yoga definitely saved my life," Mitchell stated in a 2015 interview. "Meditation and yoga, it's really all combined, the whole mindfulness aspect of living saved my life."
Mitchell described his journey from paralysis to recovery as a transformation. A description on his website highlighted his approach: "Once an NFL All-Pro linebacker, Keith's career was shattered by a paralyzing spinal injury. Yet, where most saw an end, he discovered a new beginning. While others saw defeat, he found possibility, using conscious breathing as neural reprogramming and meditation as mental training to regain complete mobility."
In the years leading up to his death, Mitchell was an advocate for mindfulness and yoga. He published a book titled "The Mindfulness Mastery Playbook" and shared his insights on overcoming adversity and the importance of mental training with various groups.
