George Atkinson III, a former Raiders kick returner and the son of Pro Bowl Oakland defensive back George Atkinson II, has died. He was 27 years old.
The cause of death is not known.
Josh Atkinson, George III’s twin brother, died of suicide on Christmas Day 2018. Two months earlier, the twins’ mother had died from complications of Crohn’s disease.
George III wrote on theunsealed.com that he was “filled with anger and guilt,” after his brother’s death. “I was on an emotional roller coaster and in a real dark place,” he said.
George III and Josh, born Nov. 29, 1992, attended Livermore’s Granada High School, playing football and running track.
In George III’s online post, he detailed his mother’s struggles with mental health and drug addiction, which grew into violence toward the twins. Eventually, he writes, his mother was institutionalized and the boys went to stay with an uncle before settling in with their father, the former Raiders star. George III credited his father with giving the boys stability and discipline.
He and his brother were motivated academically in order to play college football. They both accepted scholarship offers from Notre Dame. In three seasons at Notre Dame, George III rushed for 943 yards and 10 touchdowns. Josh played 11 games as a defensive back.
George III signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2014. In his only season with Oakland, he returned seven kickoffs for an average of 18.1 yards. He also returned kickoffs with the Cleveland Browns in 2016.
After Josh’s death, George III wrote, he found solace in his young daughter, 2 years old at the time of his writing.
“Without my daughter, I don’t know where I would be right now,” he wrote. “She gave me that second wind of motivation.”
The senior George Atkinson was a two-time Pro Bowler as a strong safety with the Raiders, intercepting 30 passes and recovering three fumbles in eight seasons. He also returned punts, returning three for touchdowns. He won a Super Bowl ring with the 1976 Raiders. He finished his career playing six games with the Broncos in 1979.
After his playing career he spent several years as a color analyst on Raiders broadcasts. In 2016, the elder George detailed to this news organization his struggles with symptoms similar to those of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain condition that afflicts many former athletes who take repeated hits to the head.
Shortly after Josh’s death, George III wrote, “I am still struggling. My mother’s birthday just passed and I know the holidays this year won’t be easy. But I am trying to take life one day at a time.
“And so should you…”
To get help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You can also message the Crisis Text Line at 741741. For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.
SEASON PASS DIGITAL OFFER
If you have not already, we strongly encourage you to sign up for a digital subscription, which gives you access to all content on the Mercury News and East Bay Times websites. With your support, we can continue bringing these stories — and much more — to your screens. Here’s where to sign up for the season pass: Mercury News, East Bay Times.