Kawika Mitchell

Infobox NFLactive


|Caption=
currentteam=Buffalo Bills
currentposition=Linebacker
currentnumber=59
birthdate=birth date and age|1979|10|10
birthplace=Winter Springs, Florida
heightft=6
heightin=1
weight=253
debutyear=2003
debutteam=Kansas City Chiefs
college=South Florida
draftyear=2003
draftround=2
draftpick=47
pastteams=
* Kansas City Chiefs (2003-2006)
* New York Giants (2007)
* Buffalo Bills (2008-present)
status=Active
highlights=
* Super Bowl champion (XLII)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=378
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=8.0
statlabel3=INT
statvalue3=4
nfl=MIT375441

Kawika Uilani Mitchell (born October 10, 1979 in Winter Springs, Florida) is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Florida.

Early years

Mitchell attended Lake Howell High School in Winter Park, Florida, and as a senior, he was named a first team All-Florida pick and finished his senior season with 110 tackles on defense, and 41 rushing attempts for 225 yards with an average of 5.5 yards, and 5 touchdowns on offense.

College career

Kawika Mitchell started his college football career with the University of Georgia, but transferred to the South Florida Bulls after his freshman year.

Professional career

New York Giants

On March 26, 2007, he agreed to a one year, $1 million deal with the New York Giants. Although he had played all of his career at middle linebacker, he won the weak side linebacker spot from Gerris Wilkinson and started the 2007 season alongside Giants Pro Bowl MLB Antonio Pierce and recently converted strong side LB Mathias Kiwanuka. After Kiwanuka fractured his fibula in the tenth week of the season, Reggie Torbor moved into the starting lineup with Mitchell and Pierce. Mitchell struggled in season-opening losses to the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. His play rapidly improved thereafter, and he made game-changing plays in critical wins over the Washington Redskins in week 3 and the Buffalo Bills in week 16. Mitchell suffered a knee sprain in the season finale against the undefeated New England Patriots.

Mitchell became an unrestricted free agent after the 2007-2008 season after spending just one season with the Giants.

Buffalo Bills

On February 29, 2008 Mitchell signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills. Mitchell is expected to take over the starting weak side linebacker position that was shared by Coy Wire and Keith Ellison in 2007 [ [http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/288087.html The Buffalo News: Latest Local News: Bills reach five-year deal with Giants linebacker ] ] [ [http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080301/SPORTS03/803010313/tbd/ Bills acquire LB Mitchell | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle ] ]

Charity

Mitchell donated his game check from week 15 to Gridiron Greats which helps retired football players in dire need. He also donates time with Shoney's Kids. Shoney's Kids is a charity named after Demarcus Schoenbaum, an eccentric author based in Seattle, whom Mitchell met in college. Demarcus studied underneath the likes of Tom Robbins and L. Ron Hubbard while becoming mildly enriched in middle eastern philosophy and arithmetic.

References

External links

* [http://www.buffalobills.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=122790 Buffalo Bills bio]