Stephen Dennis Atwater (born October 28, 1966) is an American former professional football player who was a safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Super Bowl champion. Atwater was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 1, 2020.
Atwater and Dennis Smith made up a Broncos secondary that was known for their ferocious hits on opposing players.
Atwater attended Lutheran High School North in St. Louis, Missouri and was the school's top athlete, playing football, basketball, and track. Atwater was selected all-conference and league Most Valuable Player as an option style quarterback. He credits his coach there, Mike Russell, as serving as a mentor for him both as a football player and becoming an exemplary citizen. Atwater also is sixth on Lutheran North's all-time passing yards in a season with 1,097 yards in his junior year.
Atwater signed with the University of Arkansas, where he was moved from quarterback to safety. He was named to the All-Southwest Conference team three times and named as an All-American twice.
During his senior year, Atwater helped the 1988 Arkansas Razorbacks football team finish the season at 10-2 and win the Southwest Conference championship outright, but lost to UCLA and QB Troy Aikman in the 1989 Cotton Bowl Classic on New Year's Day. 1988 bookended his college career since Arkansas also finished 10–2 after beating Arizona State 18–17 in the 1985 Holiday Bowl during Atwater's freshman season.
Helping Atwater's stock as a pro prospect was his appearance in the East-West Shrine Game, where he logged two interceptions. He was also named defensive most valuable player in the 1989 East-West Shrine Game.
He still holds the school record with 14 interceptions in his career.
In 1994, Atwater was named to the Razorback All-Century Team and the All-Decade Team for the 1980s. He was inducted into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor in 1998.
On January 15, 1989, Atwater appeared in the East-West Shrine Game and made two interceptions for the West as they were defeated 24—6 by the East. He was named the Defensive Player of the Game and substantially raised his draft stock following his performance. He was considered to be one of the top two safety prospects available in the 1989 NFL Draft, along with Florida's Louis Oliver. Atwater was considered slow after running a 4.63s 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, compared to Louis Oliver who ran a 4.37s 40-yard dash. At Arkansas' Pro Day, Atwater improved his 40-yard dash time to 4.50. During the pre-draft process, he had pre-draft visits with multiple teams including the Broncos.
The Denver Broncos selected Atwater in the first round (20th overall) of the 1989 NFL draft. Atwater was the first safety drafted in 1989. Head coach Dan Reeves was conflicted on which safety to draft after Louis Oliver was unexpectedly still undrafted at 20th overall. Head coach Dan Reeves consulted with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and defensive backs coach Charlie Waters and it was decided they would draft Atwater due to his leadership and instincts.
Due to failed contract negotiations, Atwater staged a contract holdout which subsequently caused him to refuse to attend the first two weeks of training camp. On August 1, 1989, the Denver Broncos signed Atwater to a four—year, $2 million rookie contract that included an initial signing bonus of $750,000.
Upon his arrival at training camp, Atwater was slated to take over a starting role at safety following the departure of Mike Harden. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips employed him to line up close to the line of scrimmage and as a strong safety in the box to fortify the Broncos' dismal run defense from the previous season. Head coach Dan Reeves named Atwater and Dennis Smith the starting safeties to begin the regular season. With both standing at 6'3", the Broncos employed possibly the tallest safety tandem of all-time.
On September 10, 1989, Atwater earned his first career start and made his professional regular season debut in the Broncos' home-opener against the Kansas City Chiefs as they won 34—20. On September 24, 1989, Atwater set a season-high with two interceptions and had his first career interception on a pass Jay Schroeder attempted to throw to wide receiver Willie Gault and returned it for a 30—yard gain in the second quarter as the Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Raiders 31—21. In Week 5, he set a season-high with 12 combined tackles during a 10—16 win against the San Diego Chargers. He started all 16 games during his rookie campaign and made 129 combined tackles (86 solo) and three interceptions.
The Denver Broncos' retained Atwater and Dennis Smith as the starting safeties to begin the regular season in 1990. On September 17, 1990, Atwater had a career highlight in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs that was nationally televised on Monday Night Football. As the Kansas City Chiefs' 260 lbs. running back Christian Okoye came through a hole in the line of scrimmage, he was met by Atwater early in the first quarter. The resulting collision stopped Okoye in his tracks and resulted in no gain, with Atwater standing over him, taunting the proclaimed "Nigerian Nightmare", while he lay on the ground stunned. The hit instantly became the most prominent play of their careers. His coach Mike Shanahan stated "That's the hit people will remember him for.". The Broncos went on to defeat the Chiefs 24—23. The following game, Atwater was sidelined as the Broncos defeated the Seattle Seahawks in overtime 31—34 due to an injury classified as a rib strain. In Week 6, he set a season-high with 18 combined tackles during a 17—34 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. On November 18, 1990, Atwater sacked Jim Harbaugh for a five—yard loss, marking the first sack of his career during a 16—13 loss to the Chicago Bears. He finished the season with a career-high 173 combined tackles (112 solo), made two pass deflections, and one sack in 15 games and 15 starts. His breakout season earned him a selection to the 1991 Pro Bowl, alongside Dennis Smith. This marked the first Pro Bowl selection of his career, although he was unable to participate due to injury.
On September 15, 1991, Atwater made ten combined tackles, a fumble recovery, and intercepted Jeff Kemp's pass to wide receiver Paul Skansi as the Broncos defeated the Seattle Seahawks 10—16. In Week 16, he set a season-high with 14 combined tackles and sacked Chris Chandler for a five—yard loss, marking his lone sack of the season as the Broncos defeated the Phoenix Cardinals 24—19. He started in all 16 games throughout the 1991 NFL season and finished with 150 combined tackles (83 solo), 11 pass deflections, five interceptions, and one sack. He finished with the second most tackles on the team for the second season in-a-row, behind linebacker Michael Brooks with 153 combined tackles. His performance in 1991 earned him a selection to the 1992 Pro Bowl.
On July 7, 1992, the Denver Broncos re-signed Atwater to a two—year, $3.50 million contract that included an initial signing bonus of $350,000. Head coach Mike Shanahan retained Atwater and Dennis Smith as the starting safety duo to begin the regular season. Atwater would be inactive as the Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Raiders in their home-opener due to an ankle sprain.
In Week 2, he set a season-high with 17 combined tackles (10 solo) during a 21—13 victory against the San Diego Chargers. On September 27, 1992, Atwater recorded five solo tackles, set a season-high with three pass deflections, and had his first interception of the season on a pass attempt by Mike Tomczak during a 12—0 win at the Cleveland Browns. In Week 15, he made seven combined tackles (six solo), a pass deflection, a fumble recovery, and intercepted a pass by Jim Kelly during a 17—27 loss at the Buffalo Bills. He finished the 1992 NFL season with 151 combined tackles (73 solo), 12 pass deflections, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one sack in 15 games and 15 starts. On December 28, 1992, the Broncos announced their decision to fire head coach Dan Reeves after they finished with an 8—8 record.