Elijah Mitchell Bio
Elijah I. Mitchell (born May 2, 1998) is an American professional football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft. Known for a hard-nosed running style, Mitchell emerged as a productive rookie before navigating a series of injuries through his next three seasons.
Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing around 200 pounds, Mitchell has built his career on inside toughness and reliable pass protection. After four seasons in San Francisco and a brief 2025 stop with the Kansas City Chiefs, he signed with the New England Patriots’ practice squad in December 2025.
Early Life and Background
Elijah I. Mitchell grew up in Erath, Louisiana, a small Vermilion Parish community where high school football is a central part of local life. He attended Erath High School and developed into the Bobcats’ featured running back across multiple varsity seasons.
As a senior, Mitchell played in only eight games because of an injury but still rushed for 1,903 yards and 28 touchdowns, showcasing the burst and finishing power that would later translate to the college level. Over three seasons as Erath’s starting running back, he compiled 4,045 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns on 457 carries, numbers that put him on the radar of in-state college recruiters.
Path to American Football
Mitchell stayed in his home state to play college football at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, suiting up for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. His path to a featured role began quickly: as a freshman, he posted 42 carries for 257 yards and four touchdowns before a broken bone in his foot ended his season.
Healthy again as a sophomore, Mitchell earned Second-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors after 146 carries for 985 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns, adding 20 receptions for 349 yards and three scores. As a junior, he repeated as Second-team All-Sun Belt with 198 carries for 1,147 yards and 16 touchdowns. In his final college season he was named First-team All-Sun Belt and earned First Responder Bowl MVP honors, finishing his career with 527 carries for 3,267 yards and 41 rushing touchdowns, plus 49 receptions for 597 yards and five receiving scores.
Elijah Mitchell Career
Early Career (2021)
The San Francisco 49ers selected Elijah Mitchell in the sixth round, 194th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft, and he signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021. He opened the season as part of a crowded backfield but quickly separated himself with consistent production.
Mitchell made his NFL debut in the season-opening 41–33 road victory over the Detroit Lions, finishing with 19 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown. He went on to break the 49ers’ single-season rookie rushing record with 878 yards in 10 games, surpassing Vic Washington’s 1971 mark of 811 yards in 14 games, and he closed his rookie year with 207 carries for 963 yards and five touchdowns plus 19 receptions for 137 yards and a score.
San Francisco 49ers Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Mitchell’s rookie postseason was busy and productive. In the Wild Card Round against the Dallas Cowboys he had 27 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown in the 23–17 road win, and in the Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers he added 17 carries for 53 yards in the 13–10 victory. He finished the playoff run with three receptions for 50 yards in the NFC Championship Game loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The 2022 season was interrupted by injuries. Mitchell landed on injured reserve after a sprained MCL in Week 1, returned in November, then suffered an MCL tear in Week 12 and was placed back on injured reserve. He appeared in five games with one start, totaling 45 carries for 279 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came in the regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals. In the playoffs he caught two passes for 25 yards and a touchdown in the Wild Card win over the Seattle Seahawks and added 14 carries for 51 yards in the Divisional Round win over the Cowboys.
Later 49ers Years (2023–2024)
In 2023, Mitchell played in 11 games with one start and recorded 75 carries for 281 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in the final two weeks of the regular season. During the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions, he had four carries for seven yards and a touchdown in the 34–31 comeback victory that sent San Francisco to Super Bowl LVIII. He rushed twice for eight yards in the 25–22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mitchell suffered a hamstring injury during the 2024 preseason and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on August 27, 2024, limiting him before free agency.
Kansas City Chiefs (2025)
On March 13, 2025, Mitchell signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. He appeared in only one game before being released on December 20, 2025.
New England Patriots (2025–Present)
On December 23, 2025, Mitchell was signed to the New England Patriots’ practice squad, giving him an opportunity to finish the 2025 season in a familiar AFC setting.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mitchell is a compact, between-the-tackles runner who excels at pressing the line of scrimmage, finding small creases, and finishing runs with strong leg drive. He has shown reliable hands out of the backfield, with 49 college receptions and regular passing-down work in San Francisco, and he is trusted in pass protection. His low center of gravity helps him absorb contact and keep his feet moving through traffic.
Notable Events and Milestones
Mitchell’s signature moment came in his rookie season, when he broke the 49ers’ single-season rookie rushing record with 878 yards in just 10 games. He also scored a receiving touchdown in the 2022 Wild Card win over the Seattle Seahawks and rushed for a touchdown in the 2023 NFC Championship comeback against the Detroit Lions on the way to Super Bowl LVIII.
Elijah Mitchell Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Elijah Mitchell has posted one 1,000-yard rushing pace as a rookie, two double-digit touchdown seasons at the college level, and a series of postseason touchdowns for the San Francisco 49ers from 2021 through 2023.
NFL Highlights
Mitchell’s first NFL touchdown came in his debut against the Detroit Lions, and his rookie year ended with 963 rushing yards and six total touchdowns. His most recent postseason score came in the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions in January 2024, when his short rushing touchdown helped complete the comeback win.
Other Wins & Performances
At the high school level, Mitchell rushed for 4,045 yards and 50 touchdowns across three seasons at Erath High School, and he added three All-Sun Belt Conference selections at Louisiana, including First-team honors in 2020 and First Responder Bowl MVP recognition.
Elijah Mitchell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public biographical sources for Elijah Mitchell’s parents and wider family have not been confirmed, so details about his immediate family background are not included here.
Personal Life
Mitchell is a native of Erath, Louisiana, and has spent his professional career in the National Football League since 2021. He maintains an active presence on social media under the handle @15ive_ on Instagram.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a stop-and-start year for Elijah Mitchell. After signing a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in March, he appeared in only one game before being released on December 20, 2025. Three days later, on December 23, the New England Patriots signed him to their practice squad.
For Mitchell, the late-season move to New England is essentially a fresh audition heading into the offseason. A spot on the practice squad gives the Patriots a low-risk look at a back with proven NFL tread on his tires, while Mitchell gets the chance to stay game-ready and compete for a longer-term role.
Outlook: With injuries in 2022 and 2024 limiting his recent workload, Mitchell will be looking to stay healthy and prove he can still handle a featured role. A strong finish with New England could put him back in the mix for a 2026 roster spot.