Steve Atwater

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

One of Atwater's career highlights happened on September 17, 1990, during a Monday Night Football telecast from Mile High Stadium. As the Kansas City Chiefs' massive 260 lbs. running back Christian Okoye came through a hole in the line of scrimmage, he was met by Atwater. The resulting collision stopped Okoye in his tracks, with Atwater standing over him, taunting the proclaimed 'Nigerian Nightmare' while he lay on the ground stunned. His coach Mike Shanahan stated 'That's the hit people will remember him for.' In Super Bowl XXXII, he posted one of the better performances by a safety in a Super Bowl and one of the greatest games of his career. He is credited with six solo tackles, one sack, two passes defensed and a forced fumble. Near the end of the fourth quarter, the game was tied at 24 and Green Bay had the ball on 3rd down & 8. Atwater knocked down a critical pass on a blitz where the receiver was left wide open, forcing the Packers to punt. Then on Green Bay's final drive, Atwater's vicious hit (which nearly knocked out three players, including Atwater, Packers wide receiver Robert Brooks, and his teammate, Broncos cornerback Randy Hilliard) with less than a minute remaining left the Packers in 4th and 6 situation without any remaining timeouts. Many argued that Atwater should have been the MVP of the game and the ensuing article in The Sporting News pictured Atwater and noted the impact of his hits on the game.

In Their Own Story

Atwater was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round (20th overall) of the 1989 NFL draft. New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips employed Atwater close to the line of scrimmage in order to fortify Denver's run defense and he led the team in tackles, finishing with 129 tackles his rookie season. Denver's defense jumped 20 spots to finish 7th against the run and tied for 3rd best in yards per carry with a 3.7-yard average. That same year, Atwater finished 2nd to the Kansas City Chiefs' Derrick Thomas in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Atwater's second season marked the first of seven consecutive Pro Bowl selections (1990–96), tied for most in franchise history. Over his career, he was selected to the Pro Bowl eight times, second-most in franchise history. Early in his career, Atwater teamed with fellow Broncos safety Dennis Smith to form one of the best safety tandems of their generation. Both would later be inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame. During his 10-year career in Denver, Atwater started in 155 games, tying him for seventh in franchise history for games started.

Reader's Guide

Atwater left the Broncos following the 1998 season, signing with the New York Jets as a free agent for his final season in 1999. Atwater played for the New York Jets for one season and became a free agent. He called Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, asking him if he could retire as a Bronco. He signed a one-day ceremonial contract with the Broncos before announcing his retirement from football. He thanked several of his coaches, stating 'I bleed orange and will always bleed orange and blue.' At the time of his retirement, he played in 155 consecutive games with the Broncos. Bowlen called Atwater one of the Broncos' 'greatest players.' Atwater was inducted to the Broncos' Ring of Fame in 2005. In 2017, Atwater was hired as both an insider for the Broncos' website as well as fan development manager. After 16 years, Atwater was selected to the 2020 Hall of Fame class on February 1, 2020.

Did You Know?

• Atwater attended Lutheran High School North in St. Louis, Missouri and was selected all-conference and league Most Valuable Player as an option style quarterback.
• He still holds the school record at Arkansas with 14 interceptions in his career.
• Atwater was named defensive most valuable player in the 1989 East-West Shrine Game, where he logged two interceptions.
• In Super Bowl XXXII, Atwater is credited with six solo tackles, one sack, two passes defensed and a forced fumble.
• Atwater was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 1, 2020, after 16 years of eligibility.