Doug Atkins facts for kids
Atkins on a 1954 Bowman football card
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| No. 83, 81 | |||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | May 8, 1930 Humboldt, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Died: | December 30, 2015 (aged 85) Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 257 lb (117 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Humboldt (TN) | ||||||
| College: | Tennessee | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1953 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Douglas Leon Atkins (born May 8, 1930 – died December 30, 2015) was a famous American football player. He played as a defensive end for three teams in the National Football League (NFL). These teams were the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints. Before turning pro, he played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Doug Atkins was known for being a very strong defender. He used his large size and amazing quickness to his advantage. Standing at 6 feet 8 inches tall, he could often bat down passes. He also used his skills as a high jump champion to leap over blockers. This helped him get to the quarterback quickly. Atkins was one of the first great players who focused only on defense. He helped change how the defensive end position was played in football.
Contents
Early Life and College Football
Doug Atkins was born on May 8, 1930, in Humboldt, Tennessee. He went to Humboldt High School. There, he played for the school's basketball team. In 1949, his team won the state championship without losing a single game.
He first went to the University of Tennessee on a basketball scholarship. But the football head coach, Bob Neyland, saw how big and agile he was. Coach Neyland then asked him to join the football team. Atkins played on the 1951 Tennessee Volunteers football team. This team won the national championship that year.
In 1952, he earned All-America honors, meaning he was one of the best players in the country. Doug Atkins is one of the few players in Tennessee history to have his jersey number retired. Many people thought he was one of the most dominant defensive players in the SEC (Southeastern Conference) ever. He was even chosen as the overall SEC "Player of the Quarter-Century" for the years 1950 to 1975. Besides football, Atkins also played track and field and basketball in college. He was a runner-up in the high jump at the 1952 SEC championships.
Playing in the NFL
The Cleveland Browns picked Doug Atkins as the 11th player in the 1953 NFL draft. He played his first two NFL seasons with the Browns. In 1954, his team won the NFL Championship.
Later, the Browns traded Atkins to the Chicago Bears. In Chicago, Atkins quickly became a key player on a very strong defense. He was chosen as a First-team All-Pro player multiple times with the Bears. He also played in the Pro Bowl many times during his years in Chicago.
After the 1966 season, Atkins thought about retiring. But he decided to play one more year for the Bears. Before the 1967 season, he asked to be traded. He then joined the New Orleans Saints. He played for the Saints for three seasons. In 1968, he hurt his knee. He officially retired after the 1969 season. In his very last play in the NFL, Atkins sacked the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback. This helped the Saints win their game 27–24.
Awards and Recognition
Doug Atkins received many honors for his amazing football career. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982. Then, in 1985, he was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
His college jersey number, #91, was retired by the University of Tennessee in 2005. This means no other player at Tennessee will wear that number. Even though he played only three seasons for the New Orleans Saints, they also retired his number, #81. This shows how important he was to the team.
The NFL Network once ranked him as one of the top 10 pass rushers of all time. A famous narrator, John Facenda, once described Atkins as being like "a storm rolling over a Kansas farmhouse." This meant he was incredibly powerful and hard to stop on the field.
Life After Football
Doug Atkins was married twice during his life. After he retired from the NFL, he tried different jobs. He worked as an exterminator and also managed pipe systems. He even sold caskets to funeral homes for a time.
He also had a small acting role. He played a character named "Jebbo" in the 1975 movie Breakheart Pass.
Doug Atkins passed away on December 30, 2015, at the age of 85. He died of natural causes in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was survived by his wife, his brother, and his three sons.
See also
In Spanish: Doug Atkins para niños
