Mitchell gained the yardage needed during the third quarter of the team's Week 17 matchup against the Houston Texans, surpassing the 811 rushing yards by Vic Washington in 1971. Washington accomplished the feat in 14 game appearances while Mitchell did so in 10.
Update: Mitchell finished the game with 119 rushing yards, increasing his season total to 878 rushing yards.
Sunday was Mitchell's first game back since suffering a knee injury during Week 13.
Mitchell has been a pleasant surprise this season. In August, the sixth-round pick was just hoping to show enough on special teams to make the roster.
"Like I said, I'm willing to do anything and everything just to be on this team," Mitchell said in August. "So, [special teams] is going to be one of my roles but also being a running back too."
Mitchell did make the roster. Then, a season-ending injury to Raheem Mostert forced the rookie to become the team's featured back. Mitchell is proving to be more than a role player. He's showing coaches, fans, and opponents that he deserves to be named among the NFL's best young running backs.
"I always had that mindset of coming in and wanting to play, wanting to start, really," Mitchell said last month. "But when I first came in, it was the thought that everybody had, where they're coming in, being drafted. Special teams, that was my one key because I knew we had a deep room and everything. But things happen, so when it was my time, when my name was called, I was just ready to go."
Now, Mitchell is in the 49ers record books, in front of names like Washington, Ken Willard, Roger Craig, and Earl Cooper.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers open practice window for rookie QB Kurtis Rourke
The San Francisco 49ers have officially opened the practice window for rookie quarterback Kurtis Rourke, the first of the team's three seventh-round picks. Rourke has been on the non-football injury (NFI) list after undergoing ACL surgery in January. The 49ers now have 21 days... -
49ers rookie Kurtis Rourke explains why recent roster move is so important
The San Francisco 49ers opened rookie quarterback Kurtis Rourke's practice window on Monday, giving the team 21 days to evaluate the young signal-caller as he works to prove he is healthy after undergoing surgery in January to repair a torn ACL, an injury he played through in... -
49ers' John Lynch addresses futures of Brandon Aiyuk and Mac Jones
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch joined The TK Show with Tim Kawakami and discussed the futures of two key players—Brandon Aiyuk and Mac Jones. Recent reporting revealed that the 49ers voided Aiyuk's guaranteed money for 2026, a move many viewed as signaling an... -
49ers' Brock Purdy may have a request for Mac Jones, explains sideline arm brace
Last year, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy surprised his offensive linemen with Toyota vehicles—an extravagant gesture considering he had not yet signed his lucrative contract extension. Of course, Purdy was an endorsement partner for Toyota at the time, meaning...