George Atkinson, safety and kick returner champion with the Oakland Raiders - a franchise currently based in Las Vegas - in Super Bowl XI, the final of the 1976-77 NFL season - the professional American football league - died at age 78, the team reported Monday. team.

“The Raiders family deeply mourns the passing of George Atkinson, a lifelong Raider whose physical style of play helped define an era in football and helped lead the team to its first championship,” the Las Vegas Raiders wrote in a statement.

George Atkinson distinguished himself during his playing days with his tough style of play that made him one of the most feared defenders in the league.

Although the franchise did not disclose the cause of his death, in 2016 the former player confessed that doctors had detected symptoms compatible with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is caused by repeated concussions, something common in football players.

Atkinson arrived in the NFL drafted in the seventh round of the 1968 Draft by the Raiders, team with which he played 10 of the 11 years of his career, which ended with the Denver Broncos in 1979.

In more than a decade in the league he played 144 games; He collected 33 interceptions – the Raiders’ fourth-best mark – recovered 13 fumbles and added four defensive touchdowns.

As a returner, he added 3,140 yards and three touchdowns.

He participated in seven championship games of the old American League, now the American Conference.

He earned his championship ring thanks to the 32-14 victory that the then Oakland Raiders won over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI of the 1976 season.

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