Raiders Family Heartbroken After Loss of George Atkinson
Shortly after the passing of Carol Davis, the widow of the great Al Davis and mother of Mark Davis, the Las Vegas Raiders organization suffered another loss: George Atkinson, a player who played a significant role in one of the best and most historic eras of Raiders football.
Atkinson's career spanned over 140 games, and he was widely known for his brutal hits on opponents. Atkinson was a part of the 1976 Raiders team that went 13-1 and won the Super Bowl. He remained close with the franchise even after his retirement.
The Raiders announced Atkinson's death Monday morning, noting his contribution to the Raiders' storied history. Atkinson's contributions cannot be overstated.
Raiders on Atkinson
"The Raiders Family is deeply saddened by the passing of George Atkinson, a life-long Raider whose physical style of play helped define an era of football. Selected by the Raiders in the seventh round of the 1968 Draft out of Morris Brown, George burst onto the pro football scene as an exciting defensive back and explosive returner, earning back-to-back AFL All-Star selections in his first two seasons.
"He later anchored the defense as a part of the famed "Soul Patrol" secondary of the 1970s, helping lead the Raiders to unprecedented success as the Silver and Black advanced to five consecutive AFC Championship Games and won Super Bowl XI following the 1976 season.
"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 humor will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him. The prayers of the Raider Nation are with Denise, Brittany, Maya, Angela, Craig, and the entire Atkinson family at this time."
During his career, Atkinson registered 13 fumble recoveries and four defensive touchdowns. He notched an impressive 30 interceptions and returned three punts for touchdowns. Atkinson's versatility played a role in a very critical era of Raiders lore.
Atkinson was reportedly the last living member of the Soul Patrol, marking the end of a memorable and more successful time on the field for the Silver and Black. The Raiders return from their Bye Week with a matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.
Mariners Linked To Yankees' $168 Million Free Agent Star: Insider
The Seattle Mariners were one of the best teams in all of baseball this season, but they fell short of the ultimate goal of the World Series.
Seattle made moves for players like Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez in its push for the World Series. But now these two stars are headed to free agency and the Mariners are going to struggle to replace them. If the Mariners want to stay at the top of the league, they're going to need to spend a good chunk of money in free agency, either to re-sign these two or in order to replace them.
The Athletic's Jim Bowden recently linked the Mariners to a huge deal with New York Yankees free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger this offseason. Bowden also projected the star outfielder to sign a massive six-year, $168 million deal, which might not be good news for the Mariners.
Cody Bellinger could bolt for a deal with the Mariners
"Bellinger’s ability to play above-average defense at all three outfield positions and first base increases his free-agent worth, although it looks like he’s found a home in left field," Bowden wrote. "He has been a perfect fit for the Yankees, where playing half his games at Yankee Stadium with the short porch in right helped him hit 29 home runs while slashing .272/.334/.480 (he had a .909 OPS at Yankee Stadium and a .715 OPS at every other park). I think he’ll opt out of his contract and try to get the Yankees to give him a longer deal."
The Mariners would be the perfect fit for Bellinger if they can afford the massive contract projection. Bellinger could slot into the outfield in Victor Robles' spot, or he could replace Naylor at first base. Either way, he's a good defender.
He's also an incredible hitter, as most have come to know with Bellinger's track record. He's coming off one of the best seasons of his career in 2025.
The Yankees and a few other big market teams will likely be in hot pursuit of Bellinger, but the Mariners have a chance to emerge from the group with the star on their roster.
