Age: 25 (Oct.
28)
3rd
season in pro football & with Broncos
College: Arkansas
Height: 6’3” Weight: 213
Prelude:
Atwater was
chosen by the Broncos in the first round of the 1989 NFL draft (20th
overall) and moved directly into the starting lineup at free safety. Playing
with poise and having good range and size, he teamed well with veteran SS
Dennis Smith. He followed up with a 1990 season in which he received his first
Pro Bowl selection as well as being named second-team All-NFL by NEA and
All-AFC by UPI and Pro Football Weekly.
1991 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 5 [8, tied with fourteen others]
Most
interceptions, game – 1 on five occasions
Int. return
yards – 104 [6, tied with Najee Mustafaa]
Most int.
return yards, game – 49 (on 1 int.) at San Diego 12/22
Int. TDs – 0
Sacks – 1
Fumble
recoveries – 1
Forced
fumbles – 1
Tackles – 150
Postseason: 2 G
Interceptions
– 1
Int. return
yards – 0
TDs – 0
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly
1st
team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly
Broncos went 12-4
to finish first in the AFC West while leading conference in sacks (52),
interceptions (23, tied with Buffalo), fewest yards allowed (4549), fewest
passing yards allowed (2755), and fewest points allowed (235). Won AFC
Divisional playoff over Houston Oilers (26-24). Lost AFC Championship to
Buffalo Bills (10-7).
Aftermath:
Atwater was
again a consensus first-team All-NFL choice in 1992 and also gained Pro Bowl
honors for the third of seven straight seasons. He was shifted to strong safety
in ’94 but moved back to free safety in 1995. While no longer as dominating as
during his peak years, Atwater remained a formidable player with his
physicality. Shoulder problems hindered
his performance in 1997, ending his Pro Bowl string, but he remained an
important contributor as the team won the Super Bowl, a contest in which he
distinguished himself. Atwater was removed during passing situations in ’98,
his last year with Denver, although he gained Pro Bowl honors once more, his
eighth overall selection. The club repeated as NFL Champion and Atwater
departed, playing one last season with the New York Jets in 1999 before
retiring. In the course of 11 seasons, Atwater, in addition to his Pro Bowl
selections, was twice a consensus first-team All-NFL choice and received second-team
All-NFL and/or All-AFC honors after four other years. He intercepted 24 passes
(all with the Broncos), one of which he returned for a TD, and was credited
with over a thousand tackles.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were first-team
All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following
statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
