Pro Bowlers George Atkinson and Nick Mangold pass away

Nick Mangold (YouTube)

Two former National Football League Pro Bowlers passed away this past week. According to the Associated Press on Sunday, former New York Jets center Nick Mangold of Centerville, Ohio passed away at the age of 41, and according to the Associated Press on Monday, former Oakland Raiders tight end safety George Atkinson of Savannah, Georgia passed away at the age of 78. Mangold’s cause of death was complications to chronic kidney disease. No cause of death for Atkinson was given.

Mangold played 11 seasons with the New York Jets from 2006 to 2016. He was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times (four straight years from 2008 to 2011, and three straight years from 2013 to 2015). In 164 games, Mangold had one catch, one forced fumble and one solo tackle. He was the Jets’s first round pick, 29th overall, in the 2006 NFL Entry Draft. Mangold played his college career at Ohio State.

Atkinson played 11 seasons with the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos. He was with the Raiders for a decade from 1968 to 1977, and with the Broncos in 1979. Atkinson was selected to the Pro Bowl two straight years in 1968 and 1969. In 144 games, he had 30 interceptions for 448 yards, two pick sixes, 13 fumble recoveries for 93 yards, and two fumble returns for a touchdown.

The two interception returns for a touchdown came in Raiders wins. The first was for 33 yards and came in a 13-10 Raiders win over the Buffalo Bills on November 28, 1968. The second was for 22 yards and came in a 27-24 Raiders win over the Kansas City Chiefs on November 23, 1969. The two fumble returns for a touchdown also came in Raiders wins. The first came in a 34-10 Raiders win over the Philadelphia Eagles on October 17, 1971. The second came in a 31-3 Raiders win over the San Diego Chargers on November 25, 1973.

Atkinson also won a Super Bowl with the Raiders in 1977. The Raiders beat the Minnesota Vikings 32-14 at the Rose Bowl. Atkinson attended Morris Brown College. He was the Raiders seventh round pick, 190th overall, in the 1968 NFL Draft. This is the third notable death of a Pro Bowler this month. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin died at the age of 36 on October 18.