The Las Vegas Raiders got more tragic news of a historic nature yesterday when the team learned of the passing of former safety George Atkinson, who died at the age of 78.
Atkinson was a stalwart of the outstanding Raiders defense dating back to the team’s Oakland origins, and the safety played in seven AFL or AFC championship games in addition to helping the Raiders win the Super Bowl after the 1976 season.
Atkinson remained connected to the organization throughout his life, and his passing will be as deeply mourned as that of Carol Davis, widow of late owner Al Davis, who also died last Friday at the age of 93.
The safety played in a total of 144 games and finished his career with 33 interceptions, but Atkinson was best known for his big hits and physical style of play.
"Football is a collision sport," Atkinson told the San Jose Mercury News in 2016, with the quote picked up from an AP story via ESPN, and he also discussed his issues with what he believed were CTE-related symptoms in that interview. "If you don't have a certain mentality you will get run out of the game."
Atkinson was part of a secondary that was referred to back in the 70s as the “Soul Patrol,” a unit that also featured hard-hitting safety Jack Tatum. Atkinson made his mark right away as a rookie when he scored on an 86-yard punt return in his debut, and he made the AFL Pro Bowl in 1968 as a returner and defensive back.
The Raiders safety also endured his share of controversy during his legendary career. Brutal hits were a much nastier and more prominent part of the game back when he and Tatum roamed the secondary, and Atkinson knocked Hall of Fame receiver Lynn Swann out of the 1975 AFC championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He then took Swann out again in the 1976 season opener on a forearm shot to the back of the receiver’s head when Swann wasn't even an active part of the play.
Hits like that led to Atkinson being sued by Pittsburgh coach Chuck Noll, who referred to Atkinson as part of the “criminal element” in the NFL, but Noll lost his defamation suit.
Both of Atkinson’s twin sons, George III and Josh, played football at Notre Dame, and George III also had a brief NFL career that include a stint with the Raiders. The Raiders safety also experienced tragedy in his later years when George III and Josh both died as a result of suicide, Josh in 2018 and George III in 2019.