Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, they again faced a formidable offense in the Arizona Cardinals. The defensive line once again came through with a great performance, holding the Cardinals to just 33 yards on the ground. Mitchell coaches in a quiet and cerebral style which he picked up from the first head coach under who he worked, saying with typical understatement, "Coach Bryant wasn't a screamer, and I noticed he had some success." He has further described his approach to coaching thusly: This style and the results it has brought have earned Mitchell the respect of his peers in the NFL. Clarence Brooks coaches defensive linemen for the Steeler division rival the Baltimore Ravens and thus meets the Steelers at least twice a year. Brooks assessed his counterpart saying, Mitchell is held in extremely high regard by his fellow Steelers coaches as well. Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau has said he's "always had great confidence in him". Head coach Mike Tomlin has called Mitchell a "trailblazer" and described him as "a very respected coach in this league and well respected in this organization". Mitchell retired from coaching following the 2022 season, after 28 years with the Steelers. Personal life Mitchell lives with his wife, Joyce, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the couple have no children. Mitchell had expressed interest in becoming the head football coach at Alabama when that position had been open in the past. However, despite this interest and his connection with the program he has never been pursued for the position. Away from football, Mitchell's avocations include collecting art, fine wine and vintage jazz as well as studying history. He has stated that he plans to retire around 2012 to 2013, at which time he will return to Birmingham, Alabama. He was elected to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame with the class of 2009. Mitchell said of his selection: "I'm from the state of Alabama, and this is big. The state of Alabama is putting me, John Mitchell, a black kid from Mobile, in their sports hall of fame. There's nothing bigger in my life." References 1951 births Living people Sportspeople from Mobile, Alabama African-American players of American football Players of American football from Alabama American football defensive ends Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters football players Alabama Crimson Tide football players African-American coaches of American football Coaches of American football from Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide football coaches Arkansas Razorbacks