George Atkinson, a hard-hitting former Raiders safety who struck fear in the opposition, died Monday. He was 78.

The Raiders said Mr. Atkinson's family informed the team of his death. The team said he died in Georgia without revealing a cause of death.

The Raiders called Mr. Atkinson the anchor of the team's “Soul Patrol” secondary of the 1970s that helped lead the team to its first Super Bowl title. Mr. Atkinson remained connected to the organization until his death.

“George's contributions as a friend and mentor to everyone in the Raiders organization continued long after his playing career, and his genuine personality and wonderful sense of humor will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him,” the team said in a statement.

Mr. Atkinson played 144 games in his career, spending 10 s

See Full Page