Doug Atkins
Inducted:
1982
Player Stats
Stats:
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
257 lb (117 kg)
Born:
May 8, 1930
Humboldt, Tennessee, U.S.
Died:
December 30, 2015
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Position:
Defensive end
College:
Tennessee (1950–1952)
Doug Atkins was one of the most feared defensive linemen in NFL history. Standing 6-foot-8, his rare combination of size, strength, and agility made him a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
Atkins played 17 seasons (1953–1969), primarily with the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints, after starting his career with the Cleveland Browns.
His relentless pass rush and ability to disrupt offenses made him one of the greatest defensive players of his era.
A key figure in the Bears’ 1963 NFL Championship run, Atkins was an 8-time Pro Bowler and a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in 1982.
Atkins's Awards and Records
- 2× NFL champion (1954, 1963)
- First-team All-Pro (1963)
- 6× Second-team All-Pro (1957–1960, 1965, 1968)
- 8× Pro Bowl (1957–1963, 1965)
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
- NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
- 100 greatest Bears of All-Time
- New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame
- National champion (1951)
- First-team All-American (1952)
- 2× First-team All-SEC (1951, 1952)
- Tennessee Volunteers No. 91 retired
NFL Records
- One of the first truly dominant pass rushers
- Played 17 seasons, one of the longest careers for a defensive lineman
- Known for his leaping ability, often batting down passes and blocking kicks
- Part of the legendary 1963 Bears defense
NFL Teams
Cleveland Browns (1953–1954)
Chicago Bears (1955–1966)
New Orleans Saints (1967–1969)
NFL draft:
1953: 1st round, 11th pick
Numbers Worn:
83, 81
NFL Stats
Seasons:
17
Games Played:
205
Games Started:
176
Sacks:
94.5
Fumble Recoveries:
11
Interceptions:
3
Interception Yards:
3
Fumble Yards:
34