Douglas Leon Atkins (Born May 8, 1930, in Humboldt, Tennessee) is a former American Football defensive end who played for the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... Humboldt is a city located in Tennessee. ... In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... This is a list of athletic conferences of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). ... The University of Tennessee (UT), sometimes called the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT Knoxville or UTK), is the primary institution of the statewide land-grant University of Tennessee system, Tennessees flagship public university. ... The NFL Draft (officially the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting) is an annual sports draft in which National Football League (NFL) teams take turns selecting amateur college American football players and other first-time eligible players. ... The 1953 NFL Draft was held on January 22, 1953. ... Tackle during 2006 Pro Bowl in Hawaii A top cheerleader from each team takes part in the 2006 Pro Bowl in Hawaii The Pro Bowl is the National Football Leagues all-star game. ... Pro Bowl MVPs ... City New Orleans, Louisiana Team colors Old Gold, Black, and White Head Coach Sean Payton Owner Tom Benson General manager Mickey Loomis Mascot Gumbo Local radio Flagship stations: WWL (870 AM)-English and WFNO (830 AM)-Spanish Announcers: Jim Henderson, Hokie Gajan, Kenny Wilkerson, and Larry Matson (English); Marco Garcia... The College Football Hall of Fame, located in South Bend, Indiana, United States, is a hall of fame devoted to college football. ... The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from American cities and regions. ... City Cleveland, Ohio Team colors Seal Brown, Orange, and White Head Coach Romeo Crennel Owner Randy Lerner General manager Phil Savage Mascot CB, Chomps, TD, and Trapper League/Conference affiliations All-America Football Conference (1946-1949) Western Division (1946-1948) National Football League (1950-present) American Conference (1950-1952) Eastern... City Chicago, Illinois Other nicknames Da Bears, The Monsters of the Midway Team colors Navy Blue, Orange and White Head Coach Lovie Smith Owner McCaskey Family General manager Jerry Angelo Fight song Bear Down, Chicago Bears Mascot Staley Da Bear Local radio Flagship stations: WBBM (780 AM) Announcers: Jeff Joniak... City New Orleans, Louisiana Team colors Old Gold, Black, and White Head Coach Sean Payton Owner Tom Benson General manager Mickey Loomis Mascot Gumbo Local radio Flagship stations: WWL (870 AM)-English and WFNO (830 AM)-Spanish Announcers: Jim Henderson, Hokie Gajan, Kenny Wilkerson, and Larry Matson (English); Marco Garcia... The College Football Hall of Fame, located in South Bend, Indiana, United States, is a hall of fame devoted to college football. ... The Pro Football Hall of Fame is technically the National Football Leagues Hall of Fame. ... See also: 1981 in sports, other events of 1982, 1983 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing Stock car racing: NASCAR Championship - Darrell Waltrip Bobby Allison won the Daytona 500 CART Racing - Rick Mears won the season championship Indianapolis 500 - Gordon Johncock Formula One Champion - Keke... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... Humboldt is a city located in Tennessee. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... City Cleveland, Ohio Team colors Seal Brown, Orange, and White Head Coach Romeo Crennel Owner Randy Lerner General manager Phil Savage Mascot CB, Chomps, TD, and Trapper League/Conference affiliations All-America Football Conference (1946-1949) Western Division (1946-1948) National Football League (1950-present) American Conference (1950-1952) Eastern... City Chicago, Illinois Other nicknames Da Bears, The Monsters of the Midway Team colors Navy Blue, Orange and White Head Coach Lovie Smith Owner McCaskey Family General manager Jerry Angelo Fight song Bear Down, Chicago Bears Mascot Staley Da Bear Local radio Flagship stations: WBBM (780 AM) Announcers: Jeff Joniak... City New Orleans, Louisiana Team colors Old Gold, Black, and White Head Coach Sean Payton Owner Tom Benson General manager Mickey Loomis Mascot Gumbo Local radio Flagship stations: WWL (870 AM)-English and WFNO (830 AM)-Spanish Announcers: Jim Henderson, Hokie Gajan, Kenny Wilkerson, and Larry Matson (English); Marco Garcia... The Pro Football Hall of Fame is technically the National Football Leagues Hall of Fame. ...

College

Atkins originally went to the University of Tennessee on a baseball scholarship, but once the football coach saw his combination of size and agility, he was recruited for the grid team. After he earned All-America honors, the Cleveland Browns selected him as their first choice in the 1953 National Football League Draft. An All-America team is a sports team composed of star players. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1953 calendar). ...

Pro Football career

After two seasons in Cleveland, he was traded to the Chicago Bears and there he developed into one of history's most awesome defensive performers. Exceptionally strong and agile, the 6-8, 257-pound Atkins earned legendary acclaim as a devastating pass rusher who would often leapfrog blockers to get at the passer. that was a skill that carried over from his collegiate days when he won the Southeastern Conference high jump title. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama which operates in the southeastern part of the United States. ...

An All-NFL choice four times and a veteran of eight Pro Bowls, Atkins wound up his career with three successful seasons with the New Orleans Saints. For 17 years and 205 games, Doug wrecked absolute havoc on opposing lineman, quarterbacks, and ball carriers. Linemen who faced Atkins usually had just one thought in mind: "Don't make him mad." It was common knowledge among players that as tough as Doug was, he was even tougher when angered. An outspoken free spirit, Doug often clash with the Bears' fiery head coach George Halas. Atkins' easy-going approach to practice particularly annoyed the coach. Tackle during 2006 Pro Bowl in Hawaii A top cheerleader from each team takes part in the 2006 Pro Bowl in Hawaii The Pro Bowl is the National Football Leagues all-star game. ... George Stanley Halas (February 2, 1895 - October 31, 1983), nicknamed Papa Bear and Mr. ...

But still, the two developed a mutual respect. Although their relationship was at times tumultuous, it lasted for 12 seasons and Atkins was a key part of the Great Bears defense that won the league championship in 1963. However, in 1967 Atkins demanded to be traded and Halas sent his star lineman to the Saints, where he finished his career. After Atkins finally retired following the 1969 season, Halas openly admitted, "There never was a better defensive end." 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ...

Honors

He made it to both, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His jersey number #91 was retired by the University of Tennessee in 2005. The College Football Hall of Fame, located in South Bend, Indiana, United States, is a hall of fame devoted to college football. ... The Pro Football Hall of Fame is technically the National Football Leagues Hall of Fame. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External link

• Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile