All original quality. 8 minutes of pure gold. Lots of highlights in here that you can’t find anywhere else on TH-cam. I hope you guys enjoyed this Atwater video. This was my favorite video to ever make since I am a huge fan of Atwater. Easily one of my favorite players ever.
2:55 is such a sick play. Blows up the FB so hard the RB gets bounced and has to redirect his run. Atwater then hustles back up and then forces a fumble on the RB. Dude was a beast.
My favorite Bronco ever. I often see him at a facility in Denver where I get my back and spine treated. My back problems are because I’m a professional drummer. Steve’s back problems are because of what we’re watching here. He gave everything to the game. And he’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. Always has a minute for the fans.
I think Lott was the LT of the safety position. He had coverage skills similar to Ed Reed and was close to Atwater in tackling prowess and physicality. And hell, he helped win four Super Bowls.
@@lochnessmonster5149 --Its darn close my friend! But, gotta ask you if Lott could have put that hit on christian okoye like Atwater did....Just sayin...
@@lochnessmonster5149 Ok, you have a very serious point there but I don't put him even close to Atwater in sudden impact hitting. Heck, Ronnie Lott initially hit and five other Niner's couldn't bring down NY Giants Mark Bavaro in one game. Bavaro just dragged six defensive Niner's on his back and they eventually got him down over 10yrd;s later. When Atwater hit you like LT, you were down within one yard. I do agree Lott was a better FS at pass coverage. I really enjoy having a civil debate with you BTW...
I was always a big fan of Steve Atwater despite being in KC and a Chiefs fan. No one hit harder than Atwater. He understood how to leverage his weight and speed to really hit stick a guy and while ultra violent was also kind of beautiful how he'd time it. Absolute legend. Hopefully he gets in the HOF, saw he was a Finalist today.
Used to watch all the Broncos games.. Atwater was truly amazing at FS, and yet I think back again to KC and remember Albert Lewis as a super cover CB .. never understood why he didn't make HOF.
Tatum hit harder Butkus, Ray Lewis and Lanier too. These guy's hit so hard. Teams ran away from them. I am in my 60s. Atwater hard hitter, but not a game changer.
Steve, You are, by far, my favorite Bronco of all time. We actually met a few times....I worked the sandwich station in the dining hall at training camp your rookie and 2nd year...... AND you signed one of your jerseys for me. You are/were the HARDEST hitting man in the game. I loved to watch you play. Every defensive play I watched what you were up too, knowing full well you would be in on the tackle. This honor is LONG overdue. Love and Peace
Just watching these clips shows how much the game has changed. Guys would still sacrifice their bodies for football nowadays you don’t see guys hitting this hard or laying their bodies out on the line.
A lot of that had to do with the information that was available. You had guys smoking cigs and drinking beers between quarters. The vast majority of guys thought that the worst things that would happen would be lifelong soreness and getting banged up, they didn’t realize that their brains would die.
Jan Michael Vincent nah, it’s just men being men. The generations have changed and yes football has changed too but all the players care about now is $$$$$$.
Steve Atwater my favorite Bronco of all time, so glad he made it into the HOF! My boy could hit and put his body on the line for his team every time he stepped on the field!
Denver Broncos Archive Atwater is a persona favorite player of mine, but cmon man. Ed was maybe the greatest defender of all time. Definitely the greatest db.
A Rebel With A Cause Oh for sure. If he hadn’t been tragically taken from the world so soon he may have surpassed Reed. I think it’s between Taylor and Atwater for best tackling free safeties ever. Both could hit like no other. Only maybe Brian Dawkins compared
I was curious who Steve Atwater is and decided to watch this video. Wow! As a #Panthers fan, I'm so proud to see where our 2nd round rook S/LB Jeremy Chinn gets his inspiration from...his UNCLE STEVE ATWATER!!! Wow he can lay some lumber on those hits!!! Just wow!!!
Steve Atwater #27 of the Denver Broncos Career Accomplishments Denver Broncos (1989-1998) New York Jets (1999) 8x Pro Bowl selection 3x All Pro selection 2x Super Bowl Champion Pro Football Hall of Fame selection He was instrumental in getting the Broncos their first Super Bowl victory. In fact, some would argue he could have been the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XXXII. His play was nothing short of stellar. He was credited with six solo tackles, one sack, a forced fumble and two passes defensed. Furthermore, his big plays came at the times when the Broncos needed them most. He sacked Brett Favre and forced a fumble when Terrell Davis was sitting out the second quarter due to a migraine. He batted down a pass at the line while blitzing that was intended for a wide open Green Bay receiver. Finally, during the Packers frantic charge in the final minutes, Atwater broke up a pass with a collision so fierce two players where knocked out. Had those plays not been made it is possible the Packers could have won the game.
@@denverbroncosarchive2263 Thanks for making these great videos. I have many of them saved to my playlists and watch them often. My favorite Denver Broncos players are Steve Atwater, Dennis Smith and Randy Gradishar. 🏈
Atwater went 230 pounds max of ALL muscle but he had speed like a DB so with that kind of power and torque hitting you it made for an explosive amount of power generating from him when he would zero in. I would LOVE to see him and Derrick Henry collide! LO
Considering what he did to Christian Okoye, who was a lot bigger and can run just as fast as Derrick Henry, I think Steve would have another highlight and his reel
I actually mean that with all due respect because my opinion in 2024 is all three of them players need to set their butts down and I wish all of them the best
@@doctorboot7191 Ronnie Lott is the reason why I wanted to play football- he was an upperclassman but one of his teammates in college was Dennis Smith so in a way they come from the same kind of lines- Steve Atwater is the second best safety of all time in my opinion
Much deserved yet long snubbed HOF. I watched him play for my Hogs as a child, and he was full beast mode then. He actually created fear in opposing offenses WR dropped lots of passes expecting to get their clocks cleaned by Atwater. That Okoye hit will forever be my favorite hit, Okoye was a big back and rarely got tackled by one man.
A lot of these plays that got him in the HOF they can’t even show for his HOF video because he would be ejected every game but we all know what’s up tho
Steve Atwater DB 1989-1999 Games: 167 Interceptions: 24 Yards: 408 TD: 1 FF: 6 Sacks: 5.0 Tackles: 334 8x Pro Bowl 2x SB Champ 3x All Pro 1990s All Decade Inducted into Hall of Fame 2020 One of the Hardest Hitters ever
Saw Drew Bledsoe at end of clip - I realized recently that Bledsoe’s first 4 yrs in the league ( before he turned into Vinny Testeverde ) perfectly coincided with the NFLs peak period of NFL films VHS production & due to this there are about a dozen official tapes out there in which Drew Bledsoe is on the Mt Rushmore of NFL QBs. Constant references to Montana , Elway , Staubach, Tarkenton , & Bledsoe - they were Soooo sure he was legit. It’s funny to me , also if the tape was from 93 it may also spell out “MIRER” into that Canton waiting list.
Im never afraid of too many people in life. Not really ever. But id be afriad of this sob out in the open field with the ball. That dude destroyed everyone. And himself to do it all the time.
I sure would have hated to be on the opposing end on one of Atwater's hits. Thud, smack, pop! Comic book style just vicious. If i were the teammate I'd say man im glad im on your side! Lol
Man a handful of those hits get me worried for Atwater. Knowing how concussions used to be handled, he certainly wasn't taken out of the game after everyone of those clear concussions he sustained. I hope the ol noggin is holding up nicely and he isn't feeling the effects
I just seen Atwater is finalist for hof, YOU MEAN TO TELL ME STEVE ISNT IN THE HOF ALREADY? I been a football fan (Baltimore) for 40+ years and I just assumed after 5 years Atwater was in. Seriously did I miss something? Did anybody that voted watch this guy play? Hell I watched Denver's games just to watch Atwater light somebody up. Come on man, that dude is all day hof. First ballot tbh
For some damn reason the NFL hall of fame voting committee has really been bias toward bronco players who are truly worthy of being in the hall of fame. Randy gradishar,Karl Mecklenburg, Dennis Smith, Simon Fletcher,rod smith.
All original quality. 8 minutes of pure gold. Lots of highlights in here that you can’t find anywhere else on TH-cam. I hope you guys enjoyed this Atwater video. This was my favorite video to ever make since I am a huge fan of Atwater. Easily one of my favorite players ever.
"he just KILLED". Has there ever been a better call?
HE’S A HALL OF FAMER NOW!! CONGRATS STEVE
Long time coming!!!
Well deserved.
2:55 is such a sick play. Blows up the FB so hard the RB gets bounced and has to redirect his run. Atwater then hustles back up and then forces a fumble on the RB. Dude was a beast.
That FB wanted none of it. He made a business decision, tensed up, and was like "maybe he'll miss me" :D
Beautiful play. Thats what you call hustle
Ed reed literally said that he would give up his hall of fame slot if steve atwater can be in the hall of fame
Ed reeds a real one for that
Ikr and thanks for replying
My favorite Bronco ever. I often see him at a facility in Denver where I get my back and spine treated.
My back problems are because I’m a professional drummer. Steve’s back problems are because of what we’re watching here.
He gave everything to the game. And he’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. Always has a minute for the fans.
Atwater is a true NFL legend! He is the LT of the the Free Safety position
Every single hater: and I took that personally
I think Lott was the LT of the safety position. He had coverage skills similar to Ed Reed and was close to Atwater in tackling prowess and physicality. And hell, he helped win four Super Bowls.
@@lochnessmonster5149 --Its darn close my friend! But, gotta ask you if Lott could have put that hit on christian okoye like Atwater did....Just sayin...
@@lochnessmonster5149 Ok, you have a very serious point there but I don't put him even close to Atwater in sudden impact hitting. Heck, Ronnie Lott initially hit and five other Niner's couldn't bring down NY Giants Mark Bavaro in one game. Bavaro just dragged six defensive Niner's on his back and they eventually got him down over 10yrd;s later. When Atwater hit you like LT, you were down within one yard. I do agree Lott was a better FS at pass coverage. I really enjoy having a civil debate with you BTW...
incorrect
Not a Broncos fan, but that's irrelevant. If you don't like Steve Atwater, you don't like football, period.
That's not true. Atwater played in an Era that is looooong gone in the NFL. In todays NFL he would be permenately banned like Vontaze Burfict. # FACTS
@@sinceremaverick7081 Soyyyyyyyyy
Yes sir!
Always been my favorite Safety!!!! Matter fact I played Safety because of Atwater
@sinceremaverick7081 tell me you're soft without telling me you're soft....
I was always a big fan of Steve Atwater despite being in KC and a Chiefs fan. No one hit harder than Atwater. He understood how to leverage his weight and speed to really hit stick a guy and while ultra violent was also kind of beautiful how he'd time it. Absolute legend. Hopefully he gets in the HOF, saw he was a Finalist today.
Used to watch all the Broncos games.. Atwater was truly amazing at FS, and yet I think back again to KC and remember Albert Lewis as a super cover CB .. never understood why he didn't make HOF.
Tatum hit harder Butkus, Ray Lewis and Lanier too. These guy's hit so hard. Teams ran away from them. I am in my 60s. Atwater hard hitter, but not a game changer.
He IS in now HOF 2020!!
Steve, You are, by far, my favorite Bronco of all time. We actually met a few times....I worked the sandwich station in the dining hall at training camp your rookie and 2nd year...... AND you signed one of your jerseys for me. You are/were the HARDEST hitting man in the game. I loved to watch you play. Every defensive play I watched what you were up too, knowing full well you would be in on the tackle.
This honor is LONG overdue. Love and Peace
Steve Atwater And Dennis Smith Were Vicious Hitters. They Had No Regard For Their Own Safety... BEAUTIFUL FOOTBALL 👌🏿!!
With the wussification of the NFL nowadays, there will NEVER be another Steve Atwater... man, I miss watching him play.
Just watching these clips shows how much the game has changed. Guys would still sacrifice their bodies for football nowadays you don’t see guys hitting this hard or laying their bodies out on the line.
A lot of that had to do with the information that was available. You had guys smoking cigs and drinking beers between quarters. The vast majority of guys thought that the worst things that would happen would be lifelong soreness and getting banged up, they didn’t realize that their brains would die.
Jan Michael Vincent nah, it’s just men being men. The generations have changed and yes football has changed too but all the players care about now is $$$$$$.
Imagine Steve and Sean Taylor in the backfield..same size and attitude 💯
2:56 Steve takes out the FB and RB, incredible
Steve Atwater easily superbowl 32 mvp
The man could really disrupt your day.
Meet him one time when I lived in Atlanta at the Mall of Georgia real cool guy down to earth just didn't realize how big he was until I meet him 😲
Atwater is a nfl treasure. Legend.
Even the patriot fans like him
He was so fun to watch, you know back when the nfl used to let guys hit receivers coming across the middle
Atwaters' teamates nicknamed him 'the smilin' assassin'. What a great player of the game! 👍
Its crazy i remember watching these games live as a kid and watching it now it looks like highlight clips from the 1970s lol Damn im getting old!!
Phill simms. 😂❤ can't forget his ridiculous voice
Steve Atwater my favorite Bronco of all time, so glad he made it into the HOF! My boy could hit and put his body on the line for his team every time he stepped on the field!
I'm convinced that anyone Atwater hit still feels the pain today!
The hit on Robert Brooks is the nastiest in Super Bowl history.
HOF lock. Atwater has to be in. Legend.
Atwater is in the top5 safeties of all time and isnt in the hof. Its madness
GO BRONCOS!!!
How did Ed Reed get in before Atwater? Like wtf
A Rebel With A Cause he wasn’t
Denver Broncos Archive Atwater is a persona favorite player of mine, but cmon man. Ed was maybe the greatest defender of all time. Definitely the greatest db.
A Rebel With A Cause Oh for sure. If he hadn’t been tragically taken from the world so soon he may have surpassed Reed. I think it’s between Taylor and Atwater for best tackling free safeties ever. Both could hit like no other. Only maybe Brian Dawkins compared
Not even the best of his era
one of the greatest players of all time ....when football was football....noone hits as hard or plays with more heart...Steve your a beast
I was curious who Steve Atwater is and decided to watch this video. Wow! As a #Panthers fan, I'm so proud to see where our 2nd round rook S/LB Jeremy Chinn gets his inspiration from...his UNCLE STEVE ATWATER!!! Wow he can lay some lumber on those hits!!! Just wow!!!
Thank goodness he’s in the hall of fame now idk what took him so damn long but congrats to him.
Steve Atwater #27 of the Denver Broncos
Career Accomplishments
Denver Broncos (1989-1998)
New York Jets (1999)
8x Pro Bowl selection
3x All Pro selection
2x Super Bowl Champion
Pro Football Hall of Fame selection
He was instrumental in getting the Broncos their first Super Bowl victory. In fact, some would argue he could have been the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XXXII. His play was nothing short of stellar. He was credited with six solo tackles, one sack, a forced fumble and two passes defensed. Furthermore, his big plays came at the times when the Broncos needed them most. He sacked Brett Favre and forced a fumble when Terrell Davis was sitting out the second quarter due to a migraine. He batted down a pass at the line while blitzing that was intended for a wide open Green Bay receiver. Finally, during the Packers frantic charge in the final minutes, Atwater broke up a pass with a collision so fierce two players where knocked out. Had those plays not been made it is possible the Packers could have won the game.
I really appreciate this comment
@@denverbroncosarchive2263 Thanks for making these great videos. I have many of them saved to my playlists and watch them often. My favorite Denver Broncos players are Steve Atwater, Dennis Smith and Randy Gradishar. 🏈
The TV replay doesn’t do the okoye hit justice. It was like a bomb went off when it happened. It was staggering.
Atwater was a beast! Video speaks for itself! GO BRONCOS
It sucks that Steve Atwater has not been inducted into the HOF considering he’s one of the greatest safeties to play in the game.
Finally made it
That changed yesterday! Grew up in WA, Hawks fan...but I loved watching Atwater play! I always put him on my Madden teams in the 90's!!
This was 8 min and 27 seconds of hall of fame
I wish we could still hit like that
Finally they voted him in to the Hall of Fame. Congrats to Steve Atwater!
Dude had oldman strength as young man
Atwater went 230 pounds max of ALL muscle but he had speed like a DB so with that kind of power and torque hitting you it made for an explosive amount of power generating from him when he would zero in. I would LOVE to see him and Derrick Henry collide! LO
Considering what he did to Christian Okoye, who was a lot bigger and can run just as fast as Derrick Henry, I think Steve would have another highlight and his reel
0:25 Atwater knocked out three guys in that hit. The Secondary player, the WR and himself.
And at that point in time of the NFL if all three players did not get up then they were kids and punks not fit for the gridiron
I actually mean that with all due respect because my opinion in 2024 is all three of them players need to set their butts down and I wish all of them the best
Atwater was a hitter
No other description
Steve is the best safety to ever play. Im gonna start trolling everywhere so everyone knows
The world needs more people like u😤
42
Denver Broncos Archive stop it Atwater couldn’t defend man to man
@@Keepit-qk3eg give me an example of where he had to cover man to man-- he was the free safety....👋 hello
@@doctorboot7191 Ronnie Lott is the reason why I wanted to play football- he was an upperclassman but one of his teammates in college was Dennis Smith so in a way they come from the same kind of lines- Steve Atwater is the second best safety of all time in my opinion
Hall of Fame!!!
Poetry in motion
Steve Atwater is one of the best safety of NFL's history!!!
Much deserved yet long snubbed HOF. I watched him play for my Hogs as a child, and he was full beast mode then. He actually created fear in opposing offenses WR dropped lots of passes expecting to get their clocks cleaned by Atwater. That Okoye hit will forever be my favorite hit, Okoye was a big back and rarely got tackled by one man.
Steve was such a great Safety
Atwater is a 🐐
A true football player , loved watching him take wide receivers heads off !!
A lot of these plays that got him in the HOF they can’t even show for his HOF video because he would be ejected every game but we all know what’s up tho
So that second play scared my mom back then while watching it on live tv
Were it not for TDs play in the Super bowl, Atwater would've been game MVP.
Very true
Atwater is the Man✊✊✊
This video should have been named Steve Atwater hurting people(;
HALL OF FAMER!!!
Man I miss real football.
He was out on that second play. He'd a been in concussion protocol.
Yeah he was.
This guy so brutal🤘🏼, I think I got cte from watching these Ko’s
Looking back, had Atwater gone for the int's instead of big hits, he would have had a longer career & a Gold Jacket # HOF
#goldjacketclub
The smiling Assassin.
S.Atwater one of the best at his position,a true hitter. 🎉
Good job on the vid
#HOF Atwater was a beast
Thank you
So happy he was a Bronco...and a hall of famer!
This man should have been a first fucking ballot HOF
Hall Of Fame
HALL OF FAMER
This man done hurt everybody he’s tackled
Hall of Fame Bound!
at 6:43 was an incredible slow mo of him seeing the playaction and recovering to make the play wow
The only person who hit as hard as Atwater was Dennis Smith it would have been scary to play receiver against Denver in those days
Yeah Smith was his mentor.
I would of loved to of seen Smith, harden and Atwater on the field at the same time.
Those guys were the hitmen- it is definitely safe to say they were the best safety Duo of all time
Atwater was a monster on the field 💯
Enjoyed the whole video except seeing Atwater playing for another team ☹️
Steve Atwater DB
1989-1999
Games: 167
Interceptions: 24
Yards: 408
TD: 1
FF: 6
Sacks: 5.0
Tackles: 334
8x Pro Bowl
2x SB Champ
3x All Pro
1990s All Decade
Inducted into Hall of Fame 2020
One of the Hardest Hitters ever
Thanks man
Steve atwater was a great player and bronco fans love him. This man would hit hard and inmean hit you.
I'm a Washington fan, but this guy was one of my favorite players in the 90's.
Congratulations to Steve and all of broncos country on making the 2020 HoF class! They got this one right!
Now the NFL hall of fame voting committee needs to vote Steve Atwaters mentor and teammate Dennis Smith into the Hall of Fame.
all the CTE talk...I've met Atwater & he is as coherent as you can get even at age 55.
Also even the old-school guys knew had a hit guys without using their head
John lynch ain't got nuttin on my man
Don't forget Dennis Smith!
@@InterMountainSportsChannel a lot of people forget about him. Even Bronco fans. Him and Steve are the hardest hitting safety tandem HANDS DOWN
Steve at water forever
Hardest hitting SS in league history
FS
Terrifying hitter and freak of a human being 6’3 225
His nephew Carolina #Panthers rookie S/LB Jeremy Chinn is almost the same size at 6'3" 221 lbs with a 4.45 40 yard time! #KeepPounding
I would not want to owe that man money,even a quarter.
HoF now. Nice!
At 4:40 his reaction time is crazy. From release of the ball to catch, he has already taken 4 steps.
What a player Atwater was...could do with more of his kin now days!
What a smart player to use the lead blocker to tackle the running back
The hardest hitting safeties of all time. Steve Atwater, Brian Dawkins and Sean Taylor.
RONNIE LOTT!!!
@@whayes8084 I forgot about Ronnie Lott bussing head with them 49ers!
Lessons
He was a monster
Saw Drew Bledsoe at end of clip - I realized recently that Bledsoe’s first 4 yrs in the league ( before he turned into Vinny Testeverde ) perfectly coincided with the NFLs peak period of NFL films VHS production & due to this there are about a dozen official tapes out there in which Drew Bledsoe is on the Mt Rushmore of NFL QBs.
Constant references to Montana , Elway , Staubach, Tarkenton , & Bledsoe - they were Soooo sure he was legit. It’s funny to me , also if the tape was from 93 it may also spell out “MIRER” into that Canton waiting list.
Drew Bledsoe was very good in the beginning. But patriots still got the benefit of the doubt with Tom Brady
Im never afraid of too many people in life. Not really ever. But id be afriad of this sob out in the open field with the ball. That dude destroyed everyone. And himself to do it all the time.
I sure would have hated to be on the opposing end on one of Atwater's hits. Thud, smack, pop! Comic book style just vicious. If i were the teammate I'd say man im glad im on your side! Lol
Haha except for Randy Hilliard 😬
Steve as Broncos fan I can't show appreciation enough for the fantastic player that you were, So do you have Son?
HOF Worthy
G. O. A. T.
Someone will never hit as hard as Him
Yeah, when players had to make life decisions if they went over the middle.
Man a handful of those hits get me worried for Atwater. Knowing how concussions used to be handled, he certainly wasn't taken out of the game after everyone of those clear concussions he sustained. I hope the ol noggin is holding up nicely and he isn't feeling the effects
I just seen Atwater is finalist for hof, YOU MEAN TO TELL ME STEVE ISNT IN THE HOF ALREADY? I been a football fan (Baltimore) for 40+ years and I just assumed after 5 years Atwater was in. Seriously did I miss something? Did anybody that voted watch this guy play? Hell I watched Denver's games just to watch Atwater light somebody up. Come on man, that dude is all day hof. First ballot tbh
Safeties man. They get snubbed a lot.
For some damn reason the NFL hall of fame voting committee has really been bias toward bronco players who are truly worthy of being in the hall of fame.
Randy gradishar,Karl Mecklenburg, Dennis Smith, Simon Fletcher,rod smith.
Killer#27..
The best 👌