Stephen Dennis Atwater was born on October 28, 1966, in Chicago. He grew up in St. Louis and went to Lutheran High School North. He played football, basketball, and track. He was the league MVP as a quarterback. He later moved to safety in college.
Atwater attended the University of Arkansas. He was named All-Conference three times and All-American twice. He helped the team win the Southwest Conference in 1988. He still holds the school record for career interceptions. He was later added to the school’s All-Century Team.
In 1989, the Denver Broncos drafted him in the first round. He started as a rookie and led the team in tackles. He made eight Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls. In Super Bowl XXXII, he had a sack, a forced fumble, and six tackles. Many said he should have been MVP.
He played 10 seasons in Denver and started 155 straight games. He finished his career with the New York Jets in 1999. After that season, he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Bronco. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
Atwater was born in Chicago but did not live there long. Most of his football career was tied to St. Louis, Arkansas, and Denver. His impact on the game came from his consistency and his ability to hit hard without missing assignments.
Atwater is best remembered for his devastating hit on Christian Okoye in a September 17, 1990, game, which is often referred to as ‘The Hit that No One Could Forget.’
The Denver Broncos selected Steve Atwater with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft.
