Doug Atkins

• Inducted August 7th, 1982
• Respected by all as a ferocious defensive end
• Saints head coach describes Atkins by saying "They threw away the mold when they made Doug. There'll never be any other like him."
• Played professional basketball for the Detroit Vagabonds before the Browns offered him a pro football job.
• Was an all-Tennessee basketball player his senior year in high school.
• Went to University of Tennessee on a basketball scholarship
• Filled in on the track team and won the SEC high jump championship
• Started playing football for Coach Neyland and was an All-American tackle his senior year
• Drafted Number 1 by the Browns in 1953
• Signed with the Browns for about 5,000 to 6,000 dollars, eight beers, and two hamburgers
• Helped Browns win division title in 1953 and NFL title in 1954
• Traded to the Bears in 1955
• All-NFL in 1960, 1961, and 1963
• Pro Bowl 8 of last nine seasons with the Bears
• Helped Bears win championship in 1963
• Often argued with George Halas and was finally traded to the Saints where he played his last three seasons
• Fran Tarkenton referred to Doug as "The strongest man in football and also the biggest. When he rushes the passer with those oak tree arms of his way up in the air, he's 12 feet tall, and if he get's to you , the whole world starts spinning
• Johnny Unitas said "One of his favorite tricks was to throw a blocker at the quarterback"
• Bob Vogel of the Colts lamented that "Doug was so strong he could throw me 10 feet."
• Jim Parker of the Colts admitted that he'd "Never seen anyone meaner than Atkins. After my first meeting with him I wanted to quit pro football."
• Players who fared well against Atkins were afraid to admit it for fear he would kill them the next time they played
• Over the course of his career Doug endured a broken leg, a torn bicep, two damaged knees, a broken collarbone, both hands were broken twice, a ripped groin muscle, two sprained ankles, and numerous cracked ribs
• Perhaps the greatest compliment given to Atkins came from Papa Bear Halas himself when asked if Atkins should be in the Hall of Fame: "Of course he belongs. He was truly a great defensive end, one of the greatest in history."