George Atkinson, the final member of the Oakland Raiders’ famed “Soul Patrol,’ a hard-hitting, rule-bending defensive backfield that terrorized the NFL within the Seventies, has died, the staff introduced Monday. He was 78.
Atkinson’s crowning achievement throughout a generally controversial 11-year NFL profession included serving to the Raiders win the primary of their three Tremendous Bowls, once they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 32-14 on the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in 1977.
Like many former beloved Raiders gamers, Atkinson discovered a house with the group after his enjoying days. He remained shut pals with Raiders proprietor Mark Davis and Atkinson additionally served on the Raiders’ asserting staff for years.
“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,” the Raiders stated in a press release. “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.”
Atkinson’s later years, nevertheless, had been additionally stuffed with unspeakable tragedy as each of his twin sons, George III and Josh, died 11 months aside. Each had been highschool stars at Livermore’s Granada Excessive earlier than enjoying at Notre Dame. Josh died on Christmas Day in 2018 at 26 years previous, and George III, who adopted in his father’s footsteps as an Oakland Raider in 2014, died in November 2019 at 27. Each took their very own lives.
Their father, George Atkinson, spent his whole profession enjoying an aggressive, menacing model of soccer that belied his smallish 6-foot, 180-pound body. Though a contradiction in phrases, he performed security with the Raiders together with Jack Tatum, a no-nonsense, maniacal tackler who was nicknamed “The Assassin.”
Atkinson and Tatum teamed with Raiders cornerbacks Willie Brown and Skip Thomas, aka “Dr. Death,” to kind a fearsome foursome that precipitated nightmares for opposing receivers.
“There was nothing like them,” stated Corridor of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton of the Raiders’ “Soul Patrol.” “In 1979, the NFL created the five-yard chuck rule because of Atkinson, Tatum, Brown, Thomas and the Raiders. Wide Receivers could not get off the line of scrimmage against them. Atkinson and Tatum and the rest of the gang were so physical and strong that I’d have to wait and hope my guys could get open before I got killed.”
Tarkenton and his Minnesota Vikings, in fact, felt the Raiders’ wrath on January afternoon in Pasadena when Oakland trounced them in Tremendous Bowl XI.
Though undersized and considerably missed, Atkinson turned out to be fairly a discount for the Raiders after being drafted within the seventh spherical out of tiny Morris Brown in 1968. He was the American Soccer League’s co-Defensive Rookie of the 12 months and went on to make two All-Star sport appearances whereas serving to Oakland to 5 straight AFC Championship sport appearances.
At instances, Atkinson’s toughness led to ugly incidents on the sphere, such because the time he knocked out Pittsburgh Steelers Corridor of Fame receiver Lynn Swann within the 1976 season opener by clubbing him on the again of the neck.
Coach Chuck Noll of the Steelers stated Atkinson was a part of professional soccer’s “criminal element.” For his half, Atkinson made no apologies for the best way he performed.
“I just played the game the way I thought it was meant to be played,” Atkinson stated.
Atkinson relished the function of an intimidator as he was the most important trash talker of the Raiders’ vaunted defensive backfield. Along with his hits in opposition to Swann, Atkinson wasn’t afraid to problem a lot larger opponents, together with the time he broke New England Patriots tight finish Russ Francis’ nostril with a vicious forearm hit throughout a sport.
One other Corridor of Fame large receiver, former Miami Dolphins nice Paul Warfield, stated receivers exercised excessive warning in opposition to Oakland’s “Soul Patrol.”
“When you went over the middle against Oakland and didn’t account for Tatum and Atkinson, you would not be in the game long without being carried off the field.”
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Oakland Raiders rejoice their win of Tremendous Bowl XI in opposition to the Vikings in 1977 in Pasadena. From left: Neal Colzie (20), John Matuszak (72), Phil Villapiano (41), George Atkinson (43) and Ted Hendricks (83). (Ron Riesterer/Bay Space Information Group Archives)
