George Atkins (American football)

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1932–2015)}}

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

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = George Atkins

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| number = 62

| position = Guard

| birth_date = {{birth date|1932|4|10|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2015|1|21|1932|4|10}}

| death_place = Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lbs = 210

| high_school = Irondale (AL) Shades Valley

| college = Auburn

| draftyear = 1955

| draftround = 15

| draftpick = 180

| pastteams =

• Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1955}})

| pfr = A/AtkiGe21

}}

George Arthur Atkins (April 10, 1932 – January 21, 2015) was an American football offensive lineman. After a college football career at Auburn, he played one season with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL).{{Cite web |title=George Atkins Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AtkiGe21.htm |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

Atkins returned to Auburn as an assistant coach to Ralph Jordan in 1956, coaching in various positions, including offensive line.{{cite web|url=http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20070828/NEWS/708280335?p=1&tc=pg#gsc.tab=0|title=Atkins' greatest coaching success not with Auburn|work=GadsdenTimes.com}} He resigned after the 1971 season to take on a business position in Birmingham, Alabama.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8Q0sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X8gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2162%2C203121|title=Times Daily - Google News Archive Search|work=google.com}}

Atkins married former Leah Rawls, 1953 World water skiing champion and later historian at Auburn University, in 1954.{{cite web|url=http://ashof.org/index.php?submenu=1976_waterski&src=directory&view=company&srctype=detail&refno=138&category=Water%20Skiing|title=Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and Museum - Birmingham, Alabama|work=ashof.org}} He died in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://obits.al.com/obituaries/birmingham/obituary.aspx?pid=173947403|title=George Atkins Obituary - Birmingham, AL - The Birmingham News|work=The Birmingham News}}