Jackson Mitchell

Jackson Mitchell (born January 23, 2001) is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UConn before being signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent.

Early life and high school
Mitchell attended high school at Ridgefield. In Mitchell's junior season, he hauled in 80 receptions for 1,124 yards and 13 touchdowns, as well as notching 38 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, and three interceptions. Coming out of high school, Mitchell was rated as a two-star recruit where he decided to commit to play college football for the UConn Huskies.

College career
In week seven of the 2019 season, Mitchell recorded eight tackles in a loss to Tulane. Mitchell finished his freshman season in 2019 with 65 tackles with two being for a loss, half a sack, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery. During the 2020 season, Mitchell did not play as the Huskies season was canceled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. In week three of the 2021 season, Mitchell notched a career-high 16 tackles versus Army. During the 2021 season, Mitchell posted 120 tackles with six and a half being for a loss, three forced fumbles, and an interception. In week ten of the 2022 season, Mitchell tallied 12 tackles with one being for a loss, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, as he helped the Huskies beat Boston College 13-3. In week twelve, Mitchell notched nine tackles, and a fumble recovery which he returned for a touchdown, as helped UConn upset #19 Liberty. During the 2022 season, Mitchell notched 140 tackles, with nine and a half being for a loss, four and a half sacks, three pass deflections, an interception, two forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries which led the nation. For his performance on the 2022 season, Mitchell was named a semifianlist for the Chuck Bednarik Award. In week six of the 2023 season, Mitchell recovered a fumble which he returned for a touchdown versus Rice. Mitchell finished the 2023 season totaling 113 tackles with seven being for a loss, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown.

Professional career
Mitchell signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024.