It’s been a rough few days for the Las Vegas Raiders organization. Monday, the team announced that former safety George ‘The Hitman’ Atkinson died. He was 78.
‘The Raiders Family is deeply saddened by the passing of George Atkinson, a life-long Raider whose physical style of play helped define an era of football,’ read a statement from the team. ‘Selected by the Raiders in the seventh round of the 1968 Draft out of Morris Brown, George burst onto the pro 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 a part of the famed ‘Soul Patrol’ secondary of 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 everyone in the Raiders organization continued long after his playing career, and his genuine personality and wonderful sense of humor will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him. The prayers of the Raider Nation are with Denise, Brittany, Maya, Angela, Craig, and the entire Atkinson family at this time.’
Atkinson, who played in 144 games and intercepted 30 career passes, and Jack ‘The Assassin’ Tatum were one of the most intimidating safety combinations of all time, both widely considered dirty players − even in the 1970s, when player safety wasn’t nearly the priority it is in the modern NFL.
Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Noll was referring to Atkinson, who repeatedly targeted Steelers wideout Lynn Swann with vicious hits (having possession of the ball wasn’t a requirement), saying in 1976, ‘People like that should be kicked out of the game, or out of football.
‘There is a certain criminal element in every aspect of society. Apparently, we have it in the NFL, too.”
Atkinson claimed Noll’s comments amounted to ‘defamation of character,’ and subsequently filed a $3 million slander and libel lawsuit. The suit went to trial, but the jury sided with Noll, insomuch that he didn’t have to pay Atkinson a dime.
Despite questionable forearm shivers, Atkinson was an accomplished player and a key piece of dominant 1970s Oakland Raiders teams coached by John Madden. In addition to Tatum and Atkinson, the ‘Soul Patrol’ included cornerbacks Willie Brown, a Hall of Famer, and Skip Thomas. Atkinson had been the unit’s last living member.
The ‘Soul Patrol’ was perhaps at its finest in 1976, when the Raiders went 13-1 in the regular season and won their first championship by embarrassing the Minnesota Vikings 32-14 in Super Bowl 11.
Following his career, Atkinson tried to shine a spotlight on those Raiders squads, feeling the 1970s Steelers, Dolphins and Cowboys all unfairly got more credit. He particularly liked to call the Steelers ‘soft.’
No stranger to tragedy, Atkinson’s twin sons, George III and Josh, both died of suicide. Previously, they’d played college football for Notre Dame, George III eventually hooking on briefly with the Raiders and Cleveland Browns.
Atkinson’s death comes days after Carol Davis, wife of legendary Raiders owner Al Davis (and mother of current owner Mark Davis) died at the age of 93.