From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Doug Atkins |
|
' |
Position(s):
Defensive end |
Jersey #(s):
81 |
Born: May 8, 1930 (1930-05-08) (age 78)
Humboldt, Tennessee |
| Career Information |
| Year(s): 1953–1969 |
| NFL Draft: 1953 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11 |
| College: Tennessee |
| Professional Teams |
|
|
| Career Stats |
| Sacks |
-- |
| Games |
205 |
| INT |
3 |
| Stats at NFL.com |
| Career Highlights and Awards |
- 8x Pro Bowl selection (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965)
- 10x All-Pro selection (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968)
- 1958 Pro Bowl MVP
- NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
- New Orleans Saints #81 Retired
- Tennessee Volunteers #91 Retired
|
| Pro Football Hall of Fame |
| College Football Hall of Fame |
Douglas Leon Atkins (born May 8, 1930 in Humboldt, Tennessee) is a former American football defensive end who played for the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
[edit] College career
Atkins originally went to the University of Tennessee on a basketball scholarship, but once the football coach saw his combination of size and agility, he was recruited for the grid team. After he earned All-America honors, the Cleveland Browns selected him as their first choice in the 1953 NFL Draft. Atkins also played on the 1951 Tennessee Volunteers football team which won the National Championship.
[edit] Pro Football career
Atkins began his playing career with the Cleveland Browns, but his peak years came with the Chicago Bears during his 17 year career. Atkins' first two seasons were played with the Cleveland Browns before being traded to the Chicago Bears in 1955. In Chicago Atkins quickly became a leader of a devastating defensive unit. With the Bears Atkins made all-NFL team in 1960, 1961, and 1963; along with being a starter in the Pro Bowl in 8 of his last nine years with Chicago. Before the 1967 season Atkins requested a trade, and he was traded to New Orleans with whom he would end his career in 1969.
[edit] Honors
He made it to both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His jersey number #91 was retired by the University of Tennessee in 2005.
Even though he only played three seasons for the New Orleans Saints, the club retired his #81, one of three numbers retired by the franchise. The others belong to Hall of Fame fullback Jim Taylor, a long-time rival of Atkins during Taylor's days with the Green Bay Packers who played with the Saints only in 1967, and Archie Manning #8.
[edit] External links
