Fansided
Fansided

The Greatest Villain In the History of All 32 NFL Teams

By Erik Lambert

of the New York Jets of the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on November 22, 2007 in Irving, Texas
of the New York Jets of the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on November 22, 2007 in Irving, Texas /
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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 18: A detailed view of Oakland Raiders helmets sitting on the bench during the National Anthem prior to their game against the Atlanta Falcons at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 18, 2016 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 18: A detailed view of Oakland Raiders helmets sitting on the bench during the National Anthem prior to their game against the Atlanta Falcons at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 18, 2016 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Pittsburgh Steelers

player. 55. . S. Oakland Raiders. George Atkinson . 27

When a team raises the idea of criminal charges against a player, you know that guy is a villain. No rivalry was more intense or cutthroat than that of the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s. Not only did it feature a wealth of Hall of Fame talent, it also may have been the most physical and in many cases dirtiest rivalry there ever was.

No player epitomized that mentality better than Raiders safety George Atkinson. The two-time Pro Bowler seemed to revel in taking liberties with Steelers receivers whenever the two teams played, none more so than future Hall of Famer Lynn Swann. He delivered some fierce shots on him during their many clashes, but there were two that stood out the most.

In the 1975 AFC championship, Swann caught a pass over the middle of the field. Atkinson came flying in for the tackle and craned him around the head. Swann was knocked out for the rest of the game. That move had been legal. What happened a few months later? Not so much, and it only served to fuel Atkinson’s villain status in Pittsburgh.

In the teams’ rematch on the opening day of the 1976 season, he went after Swann again. This time though, there was no hiding his intent. Atkinson clubbed the receiver with a forearm to the side of the head. It was not legal, far away from the play and again knocked Swann out with a concussion. He missed the next two games. Head coach Chuck Noll even called for him to get kicked out of league.

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