Oakland Raiders Legend George Atkinson II Passes Away at 78
The National Football League community is mourning the loss of George Atkinson II, a two-time All-Star and key contributor to the dominant John Madden-coached Oakland Raiders teams of the 1970s. Atkinson, a strong safety, passed away at the age of 78.
Atkinson's playing career was marked by his physical style of play, which helped define an era of football for the Raiders. He was selected by the team in the seventh round of the 1968 Draft out of Morris Brown College and went on to anchor the "Soul Patrol" secondary, a unit that played a crucial role in the team's success during the decade.
A native of Savannah, Georgia, Atkinson was chosen to back-to-back AFL All-Star Games in his first two seasons with the Raiders. He remained a Raider through 1977 and finished his career with the Denver Broncos in 1979, accumulating 144 regular-season games played, 30 interceptions, and four touchdowns scored on turnovers.
After retiring as a player, Atkinson spent several years as a color analyst on Raiders broadcasts, sharing his expertise and passion for the game with fans. However, his later life was marred by personal tragedy when both of his twin sons, George III and Josh, struggled with CTE-related issues after their deaths.
The Raiders organization has paid tribute to Atkinson, releasing a statement that described him as a "life-long Raider" whose contributions went beyond the playing field. The team's condolences are extended to his family, including Denise, Brittany, Maya, Angela, Craig, and the entire Atkinson family during this difficult time.
As the NFL community mourns the loss of a football legend, fans will remember Atkinson for his toughness, tenacity, and dedication to the game he loved.
The National Football League community is mourning the loss of George Atkinson II, a two-time All-Star and key contributor to the dominant John Madden-coached Oakland Raiders teams of the 1970s. Atkinson, a strong safety, passed away at the age of 78.
Atkinson's playing career was marked by his physical style of play, which helped define an era of football for the Raiders. He was selected by the team in the seventh round of the 1968 Draft out of Morris Brown College and went on to anchor the "Soul Patrol" secondary, a unit that played a crucial role in the team's success during the decade.
A native of Savannah, Georgia, Atkinson was chosen to back-to-back AFL All-Star Games in his first two seasons with the Raiders. He remained a Raider through 1977 and finished his career with the Denver Broncos in 1979, accumulating 144 regular-season games played, 30 interceptions, and four touchdowns scored on turnovers.
After retiring as a player, Atkinson spent several years as a color analyst on Raiders broadcasts, sharing his expertise and passion for the game with fans. However, his later life was marred by personal tragedy when both of his twin sons, George III and Josh, struggled with CTE-related issues after their deaths.
The Raiders organization has paid tribute to Atkinson, releasing a statement that described him as a "life-long Raider" whose contributions went beyond the playing field. The team's condolences are extended to his family, including Denise, Brittany, Maya, Angela, Craig, and the entire Atkinson family during this difficult time.
As the NFL community mourns the loss of a football legend, fans will remember Atkinson for his toughness, tenacity, and dedication to the game he loved.
... just thinkin' about George Atkinson II's life is a reminder that even with all our strength and toughness, we're still gonna face some tough battles... I mean, CTE-related issues? That's some crazy stuff 
. But you know what's even crazier? How he still managed to give back to the game after strugglin' with it himself 
. It's like, life's all about perspective, man... we gotta find a way to use our struggles to help others, just like Atkinson did with his color analyst work 
. We can all learn from this, just take it easy on ourselves and keep shinin', even when things get tough 
.
george atkinson ii was such a legend on the field! 78 yrs old is like woah that's even older than my grandma 
he was like a soul patrol member for life!!! idk what they did to him after he retired but cte issues r just so sad 
and lets be real who didnt love watching the raiders play back in da 70s? 
. His contributions to the Raiders are still felt, even if his later life was rocky 
. CTE is no joke, you feel me? 
He's another reminder of how tough it is on athletes, mentally and physically. But let's not forget his legacy on the field - a true original who paved the way for future safeties 
. The Raiders did him right by honoring his memory, and we should all take a moment to appreciate what he brought to the game 
.
. He was only 78, that's young, right? Makes me think he might've had some help leaving this world, you know what I mean? All these "personal tragedies" about his twin sons with CTE... sounds like cover-up to me 
. Raiders organization releasing a statement saying he was a "life-long Raider"... doesn't add up 
. Someone's gotta dig deeper into his life and find out what really went down 
**RIP George Atkinson II** 
. His physical style of play and leadership helped shape the team's success, especially with his "Soul Patrol" secondary 
. But what's amazing is how he continued to share his passion for the game through his work as a color analyst 
. His twin sons struggling with CTE-related issues after their deaths, though... that's just heartbreaking 
The Raiders were lucky to have him as part of their team back in the day 
I'm gonna miss seeing his face on the broadcast screen after his color commentary days 
. george atkinson ii was more than just a football player, he was a part of history 
. those guys were like a team of superheroes on the field 
i feel bad 4 his fam, losin two sons 2 different struggles, that's just cruel 
. He will be deeply missed by the Raiders fans and the entire football community 
and that Soul Patrol secondary was 
I mean we're talkin' back-to-back AFL All-Star Games 
what's not to love about this dude? 
But for real though, CTE is a harsh reality 
. It's a poignant reminder of the human cost of playing the game we love 
It's like we're living in a football fan's nightmare 
Not many players can say that! Rest in peace George