The last living member of the iconic Oakland Raiders “Soul Patrol” has died. George Atkinson, a former safety for the Raiders, died at the age of 78, the team announced Monday. Atkinson’s “physical style of play helped define an era of football,” the team said in a statement. The football player had a successful 11-season career in the NFL. He was drafted by the Raiders in 1968 under coach John Madden and played for the team for 10 seasons. He then played his last season with the Denver Broncos. The player later had twin sons, George III and Josh, with estranged wife Michelle Martin. His two sons, who played college football at Notre Dame, tragically died by suicide and were later determined to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Atkinson was well known for being part of the “Soul Patrol,” a group recognized for their strength and lockdown coverage, ultimately leading the team to winning the Super Bowl in 1977. The powerhouse group included Atkinson, Jack Tatum, Willie Brown, and Skip Thomas. Atkinson earned acclaim for his hard-hitting safety play, bringing new attention to a position that had long been overlooked.
