The Las Vegas Raiders announced the death of George Atkinson on Monday.
The Super Bowl-winning safety was 78.
> [pic.twitter.com/ovIkFMCdYs](https://t.co/ovIkFMCdYs)
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> — Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) [October 27, 2025](https://twitter.com/Raiders/status/1982872555020267563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
A native of Savannah, GA, Atkinson spent 10 of his 11 pro seasons with the Raiders before a single season with the Denver Broncos in 1979.
“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 humour will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him,” the team said in a statement.
Drafted in the seventh round of the 1968 NFL Draft out of Morris Brown, Atkinson appeared 144 career games, recording 30 interceptions, including two pick-sixes.
Atkinson was a part of the vaunted “Soul Patrol” secondary that led the team to a 32-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI.
Following his career, Atkinson served as a broadcaster for the Raiders on both pre- and post-game coverage.
His son, George Atkinson III, appeared in 21 games across two NFL seasons with the Raiders and Cleveland Bowns in 2014 and 2016. The younger Atkinson died by suicide in 2019.