Official Site of the Bears · Dec 30, 2015
Bears legend Atkins passes away at 85
The Bears lost one of the greatest players in franchise history Wednesday when Hall of Fame defensive end Doug Atkins passed away in Knoxville, Tenn. He was 85.
Hall of Fame DE Doug AtkinsA mammoth 6-foot-8 pass rusher, Atkins played 12 of 17 NFL seasons with the Bears from 1955-66. During his time in Chicago, he was voted to eight Pro Bowls, was selected first-team All-Pro four times and helped the Bears win the 1963 NFL championship.
The only Bears players who have been voted to more Pro Bowls than Atkins are fellow Hall of Famers Mike Singletary (10) and Walter Payton (9).
Atkins was selected to the NFL All-Decade Team for the 1960s and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
