Earl Mitchell
IL/DT FA
Thu 2/6/20 4:36 PM

Mitchell announced his decision to retire from the NFL after San Francisco's loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Mitchell previously retired in November of 2019, but he returned to the field to contribute during the 49ers' postseason run. The 10-year veteran notched one assisted tackle and a half-sack during the team's Super Bowl loss, and he's now content to hang up the cleats for a final time. "I'm done. I'm grateful that I got that opportunity to come back," Mitchell said, "but I think that was a good way to finish my career.

Earl Mitchell
IL/DT FA
Tue 12/31/19 5:59 PM

Mitchell will sign with San Francisco, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Mitchell spent the last two years with the 49ers before signing with the Seahawks in the offseason. The 32-year-old never ended up playing a game for Seattle and instead chose to retire in November. He will rejoin his previous team for the playoffs in order to bolster their interior defensive line.

Earl Mitchell
IL/DT FA
Thu 11/7/19 3:02 PM

Mitchell announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
Mitchell has decided to call it a career despite drawing interest from multiple teams this season. The 32-year-old played for the Texans, Dolphins and 49ers during his 10-year NFL tenure, during which time he totaled 268 tackles, 6.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and nine deflected passes.

Earl Mitchell
IL/DT FA
Wed 7/24/19 3:36 PM

The Seahawks signed Mitchell to a contract Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
Mitchell notched 17 tackles across 14 games with the 49ers last season. The run-stuffing nose tackle could see a notable early-season role in Seattle, with Jarran Reed facing a six-game suspension for a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy.

Earl Mitchell
IL/DT FA
Wed 3/13/19 4:59 PM

The 49ers did not exercise their team option on Mitchell, making him a free agent, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.
EDGE Analysis
The team was never expected to exercise it's option for the 31-year-old nose tackle. Mitchell will now be free to sign with any team after posting 17 tackles and no sacks over 14 games last season.

Earl Mitchell
IL/DT FA
Wed 1/23/19 2:15 PM

The 49ers don't plan to retain Mitchell for 2019, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
A run-stuffing tackle with just 6.5 sacks in 130 career games, Mitchell got the start in 12 of his 14 appearances for the 49ers in 2018. The 31-year-old figures to draw some interest as an unrestricted free agent, though he'll likely have to settle for a reduction in both salary and role.

Earl Mitchell
IL/DT FA
Sat 7/28/18 2:19 PM

Mitchell did not practice Saturday, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
EDGE Analysis
The 49ers held Mitchell out of Saturday's organized activities to provide the veteran with added rest. There doesn't appear to be anything serious here, just a strategic rest day. Mitchell should be ready to go for the start of next week's team drills.

Earl Mitchell
IL/DT FA
Fri 1/19/18 8:03 AM

Mitchell recorded 33 tackles (19 solo) to go along with a sack in 16 games this season.
EDGE Analysis
Fresh off a four-year-contract signing, the veteran defensive tackle surpassed his previous career high in snaps that he set with Miami back in 2014. Primarily a run-stuffer, Mitchell didn't post totals that would appeal to IDP owners. His heavy usage indicates that the 49ers feel comfortable deploying the 30-year-old in a similar early-down role next season.

Earl Mitchell
IL/DT FA
Fri 2/24/17 8:32 PM

Mitchell signed a four-year contract with the 49ers on Friday, NFL.com's Mike Garafolo reports.
EDGE Analysis
Mitchell was cut by the Dolphins in a cap-saving move last week but it didn't take long for him to find a new home. While the Arizona product racked up a career-low 17 tackles and zero sacks last season, he could be in line for a rebound in 2017 if he can secure the Niners' first-string nose tackle job this summer; the incumbent starting nose tackle, Glenn Dorsey, is set to hit unrestricted free agency.

Earl Mitchell
IL/DT FA
Thu 2/16/17 12:45 PM

Mitchell was released by the Dolphins on Thursday, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports.
EDGE Analysis
Mitchell was scheduled to earn $4.5 million in 2017, of which the Dolphins save $4 million by cutting him. The defensive tackle shouldn't be out of a job for long, however, as he is very talented and is an asset when it comes to stopping the run. With Mitchell gone, Jordan Phillips is expected to take over as the Dolphins' starting defensive tackle opposite Ndamukong Suh.