Cleveland Browns: Top 10 rushing games of all time (Part 2)
By Thomas Moore
In what was an otherwise disappointing year, at least by the standards of the Cleveland Browns in the 1950s, Bobby Mitchell put his name in the team’s record book on Nov. 15, 1959, against the Washington Redskins.
Mitchell, then in his second year with the Browns, rushed for 232 yards and three touchdowns that day against the Redskins to propel the Browns to a 31-17 win at Griffith Stadium.
The speedy Mitchell opened the scoring with a 90-yard touchdown run on the game’s second play from scrimmage – still a franchise record – and added second-half touchdown runs of five and 23 yards.
The reigning Rookie of the Year’s versatility was on full display that season as he combined for more than 1,000 rushing and receiving yards, while scoring nine touchdowns, and added more than 400 yards and a touchdown as a kick returner.
Mitchell and Jim Brown formed one of the greatest backfields in NFL history, but it was a short-lived combination as the Browns traded the future Hall of Famer after the 1961 season to the Redskins, where he converted to wide receiver to finish his stellar career.
Next: No. 2 (tied): Jim Brown teaches the World Champions a lesson