Race is a reality that is uncomfortable to address even in favorable circumstances, either today, or 10 years ago, or 70 years ago. Pittsburgh Steelers assistant head coach John Mitchell lived an adolescence that caused him to stare race in the face on a daily basis, living in a segregated south.
You may know Mitchell primarily as the Steelers’ former defensive line coach. You probably know that that he was once drafted, though he didn’t have much of an NFL career. You may also know that he was a standout for Bear Bryant’s Crimson Tide at his hometown of Mobile, Alabama.