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George Atkinson, a Super Bowl champion and member of the Raiders’ “Soul Patrol” secondary in the 1970s, has died, the team announced Monday. He was 78.
Atkinson played for the Raiders from 1968 to 1977 and had one season with the Denver Broncos before retiring from the NFL. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and the 1968 American Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year.
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Former Oakland Raiders player George Atkinson waves after lighting a torch for former Raiders owner Al Davis before an NFL football game between the Oakland Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, California, October 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, file)
The Raiders’ organization mourned the loss in a statement.
“The Raiders family is deeply saddened by the passing of George Atkinson, a lifelong Raider whose physical style of play helped define an era of football,” the team said. “Selected by the Raiders in the seventh round of the 1968 Draft by Morris Brown, George burst onto the professional football scene as an exciting defensive back and explosive returner, earning back-to-back AFL All-Star selections in his first two seasons.
“He later anchored the defense as part of the famed ‘Soul Patrol’ secondary in the 1970s, helping lead the Raiders to unprecedented success as the Silver and Black advanced to five consecutive AFC Championship Games and won Super Bowl XI following the 1976 season. George’s contributions as a friend and mentor to all on the Raiders and his wonderful organization continued long after his wonderful sense to play and play. sense of humor will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Raider Nation’s prayers are with Denise, Brittany, Maya, Angela, Craig and the entire Atkinson family at this time.”
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Oakland Raiders defensive back George Atkinson (43) carries the ball against the New York Jets during the 1968 AFC Championship at Shea Stadium on December 29, 1968. (Manny Rubio/USA TODAY Sports)
Atkinson’s two Pro Bowl selections came in the first two years of his professional career. He had four interceptions in his rookie season and two more in 1969.
He finished his career with 30 interceptions and two touchdowns in 144 games.
In 1976, the Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI. Atkinson had six tackles in the game.
Atkinson was known for his ferocious play on the field and for delivering some of the biggest hits to his opponents. He and Jack Tatum were fearsome opponents on any offense.
“We never go out on the field with the intention of trying to hurt anybody, but we go out with the intention of getting our job done,” Atkinson said at the time. “If you don’t want to get hit, it’s best not to show up when we play on Sunday. I guarantee you will get hit.”
One of the most memorable hits came in the 1975 AFC Championship and the 1976 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He knocked Lynn Swann out of both matches.
George Atkinson (43), of the Oakland Raiders, tackles Mike Simone (51) of the Denver Broncos as he returns a Broncos punt 32 yards in Oakland, Calif., Dec. 16, 1973. (AP Photo, File)
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Then-Steelers coach Chuck Noll referred to Atkinson as part of the “criminal element” in the NFL after the second hit. Atkinson sued Noll for defamation, but lost.
