# Kawika Mitchell

Kawika Uilani Mitchell (born October 10, 1979) is an American former professional football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at University of South Florida. Mitchell was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round in 2003. Mitchell also played for the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills and New Orleans Saints.

## 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. During his career he made 367 tackles, a school record, and he was nominated for the Butkus Award as a junior and senior.

## Professional career

Pre-draft measurables :
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
| 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 253 lb (115 kg) | 31+1⁄2 in (0.80 m) | 10+1⁄8 in (0.26 m) | 4.70 s | 1.64 s | 2.70 s | 4.24 s | 7.32 s | 37 in (0.94 m) | 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) | 25 reps |
| All values from NFL Combine. ||||||||||||
While playing with the Giants, Mitchell was a resident of Hoboken, New Jersey. Mitchell appeared in Super Bowl XLII, and recorded 8 tackles and a sack.
On February 29, 2008, the Buffalo Bills signed Mitchell to a five-year contract for US$17.5 million (equivalent to about $24.8M in 2023). Mitchell was expected to take over the starting weakside linebacker position that was shared by Coy Wire and Keith Ellison in 2007. On September 10, 2010, two days before their season started, the Bills put Mitchell on the IR, ending his season.

## NFL career statistics

Legend :
| Bold | Career high |

### Regular season

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD |
| 2003 | KAN | 12 | 6 | 21 | 17 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | KAN | 15 | 12 | 74 | 60 | 14 | 1.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 39 | 1 |
| 2005 | KAN | 16 | 16 | 105 | 84 | 21 | 2.0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | KAN | 16 | 16 | 104 | 82 | 22 | 1.5 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | NYG | 16 | 16 | 77 | 54 | 23 | 3.5 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 1 |
| 2008 | BUF | 16 | 15 | 82 | 57 | 25 | 4.0 | 10 | 2 | 33 | 0 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | BUF | 5 | 5 | 27 | 17 | 10 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | NOR | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | | 97 | 86 | 492 | 373 | 119 | 13.0 | 38 | 6 | 79 | 1 | 32 | 25 | 6 | 6 | 56 | 2 |

### Playoffs

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD |
| 2003 | KAN | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | KAN | 1 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | NYG | 4 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | NOR | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | | 7 | 5 | 39 | 27 | 12 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Personal life

Mitchell and his wife Billie have a son, Lewai (pronounced Levi) who followed in his footsteps at playing football for the University of South Florida. He also has a daughter, Eliza. In 2007, Mitchell donated his game check from week 15 to Gridiron Greats which helps retired football players in dire need.