:Ricky Atkinson

{{Short description|American football player (born 1965)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Ricky Atkinson

| number = 22

| position = Cornerback

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|8|28}}

| birth_place = Middletown, Connecticut, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 175

| high_school = Valley Regional
(Deep River, Connecticut)

| college = Southern Connecticut State

| undraftedyear = 1987

| pastteams =

• New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|1987}})*
• Cincinnati Bengals (1987)*
• Phoenix Cardinals (1987)*
• New England Patriots (1987)
• Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|1988}})*

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 1

| pfr = A/AtkiRi20

}}

Richard E. "Ricky" Atkinson Jr. (born August 28, 1965) is an American former professional football player who played cornerback in 1987 for the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL).

Atkinson played college football at Southern Connecticut State from 1983 to 1986 as a cornerback, where he was a four-year starter and a member of the Division II All-New England and All-ECAC Division II teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-notable/128434331/|title=Notable|page=179|work=Hartford Courant|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 17, 1983|access-date=July 18, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/record-journal-experienced-defense-spear/128434362/|title=Experienced defense spearheads Southern|page=58|work=Record-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 31, 1986|access-date=July 18, 2023}} He was named a co-captain in 1985.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-area-watch/128434417/|title=Area Watch - December 12, 1985|page=287|work=Hartford Courant|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 12, 1985|access-date=July 18, 2023}} During his senior year, he set a school record for career interceptions and was named the New England Division II defensive player of the year and to the Kodak Coaches College Division All-American football team.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-engineers-should-even-s/128434523/|title=Engineers should even season mark tomorrow|page=39|work=The Morning Call|author=Bednar, Rudy|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 14, 1986|access-date=July 18, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-area-watch-november-2/128434576/|title=Area Watch - November 26, 1986|page=83|work=Hartford Courant|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 26, 1986|access-date=July 18, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-area-watch-december-0/128434668/|title=Area Watch - December 04, 1986|page=57|work=Hartford Courant|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 4, 1986|access-date=July 18, 2023}} Atkinson also was named a 1986-87 New England Athlete of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-college-notebook/128434992/|title=College notebook|page=59|work=The Boston Globe|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 30, 1987|access-date=July 18, 2023}}

He signed with the New England Patriots in May 1987, before he was waived in late August.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-pats-sign-scsus-atkins/128434757/|title=Pats sign SCSU's Atkinson|page=29|work=Hartford Courant|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 3, 1987|access-date=July 18, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-giants-rally-behind-si/128433770/|title=Giants rally behind Simms to bear Patriots, 19-17|page=34|work=The Baltimore Sun|author=The Associated Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 17, 1987|access-date=July 18, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-transactions/128433818/|title=Transactions|page=32|work=The Boston Globe|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 29, 1987|access-date=July 18, 2023}} Atkinson was a member of the Cincinnati Bengals and Phoenix Cardinals rosters during the 1987 National Football League Players Association strike, but was released before appearing in a game.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-post-nfl-strike-day-2/128434895/|title=NFL Strike: Day 2|page=31|work=The Cincinnati Post|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 23, 1987|access-date=July 18, 2023}} He then re-signed with the Patriots in October 1987.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-sullivan-strike-hurts/128433566/|title=Sullivan: Strike hurts in long run|page=88|work=The Boston Globe|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 9, 1987|access-date=July 18, 2023}} Atkinson appeared in one game before being placed on waivers in late October.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AtkiRi20.htm|title=Ricky Atkinson statistics at Pro-Football-Reference|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-tribune-gadbois-waived-by-new-en/128433892/|title=Gadbois waived by New England|page=15|work=Journal Tribune|author=The Associated Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 24, 1987|access-date=July 18, 2023}}

In May 1988, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts, but was released in July before the upcoming season began.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-hogeboom-a-no-show/128434041/|title=Hogeboom a no-show at QB school|page=33|work=The Indianapolis Star|author=Bansch, John|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 3, 1988|access-date=July 18, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-asheville-times-trojan-aide-for-unca/128434073/|title=Trojan aide for UNCA?|page=20|work=The Asheville Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 20, 1988|access-date=July 18, 2023}}