Raiders legend George Atkinson, known for his massive hits, dies at 78

Former Raiders security guard George Atkinson, who instilled fear in the opposition, has died. He was 78 years old.

The Raiders announced Atkinson’s death on Monday. The team did not give any reason for death. In a 2016 interview with the San Jose Mercury News, Atkinson revealed that he was suffering from symptoms consistent with CTE.

The Raiders called Atkinson the anchor of the team’s “Soul Patrol” secondary of the 1970s, which helped lead the team to its first Super Bowl title. Atkinson remained associated with the organization until his death.

“George’s contributions as a friend and mentor to everyone in the Raiders organization continued long after his playing career, and his genuine personality and wonderful sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him,” the team said in a statement.

Atkinson played 144 games in his career and spent 10 seasons oakland raiders and a final season with denver broncoshe played in seven afl Or AFC Championship Games and helped the Raiders win the Super Bowl after the 1976 season.

His 33 career interceptions in the regular season and playoffs rank fourth all-time for the Raiders, but he was best known for his physical play.

“Football is a confrontational game,” Atkinson told the San Jose Mercury News in 2016. “If you don’t have a certain mindset you’ll be out of the game.”

Atkinson joined the Raiders after being drafted in the seventh round in 1968. He was part of a stellar draft class that included Hall of Famers Ken Stabler and Art Shell as well as running backs Marv Hubbard and Charlie Smith, who helped make the team one of the top in the league in the 1970s.

Atkinson once told the team website, “We became part of the Raiders’ core from that draft.” “We wore the silver and black with pride. We understood what the tradition was and what we had to do.”

Atkinson was a major part in this, almost from the start, scoring on an 86-yard punt return in his professional debut. He made the AFL Pro Bowl in his first two seasons for his play as a returner and defensive back and later became part of the most dangerous safety duo. nfl After Jack Tatum was drafted in the first round in 1971.

In an era when receivers had little or no protection over the middle, Atkinson and Tatum punished anyone who tried.

Atkinson said at the time, “We never go out on the field with the intention of hurting anybody, but we go out there with the intention of getting the job done.” “If you don’t want to get hit, you better not come when we play on Sunday. I guarantee you will get hit.”

Atkinson’s most famous hits came against Pittsburgh and Hall of Fame receiver Lynn Swann. He knocked him out with an arm to the back of the head during a play in the 1975 AFC Championship Game and again in the 1976 season opener when Swann didn’t even get the ball.

Stabler later said in an interview with NFL Films, “Maybe it was a little bit of a departure from the rules, but it was George’s way of setting the tone for the game.”

The second hit on Swann caused Pittsburgh coach Chuck Noll to refer to Atkinson as part of the “criminal element” in the NFL. Atkinson sued Noll for defamation but lost the case.

Atkinson’s twin sons george iii and Josh, both of whom played football at Notre Dame with George Atkinson III, had brief NFL careers that also included a stint with the Raiders. Josh died by suicide in 2018 and George III died by suicide in 2019.

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