Reaction Pours in After Broncos' Safety Steve Atwater Elected to Hall of Fame

Pinch yourself because, after more than a decade of waiting, Steve Atwater is finally headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The greatest safety in Denver Broncos' history, Atwater was named a finalist for the Hall for the third time this year.

You know what they say; third time's a charm.

Atwater will join his former two-time World Champion teammates John Elway, Gary Zimmerman, Shannon Sharpe and Terrell Davis with a bronze bust in Canton, along with late owner Pat Bowlen, Floyd Little and Champ Bailey.

Atwater retired with 1,188 combined tackles with five career sacks and 24 interceptions. He was the epitome of prolific throughout his 11-year NFL career, earning eight Pro Bowl nods to go along with two first-team All-Pro selections. He was also selected to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s.

Atwater joined the Broncos as the team's first-round draft pick back in 1989 out of Arkansas. He appeared in three Super Bowls with the Broncos, including XXXII and XXXIII.

Atwater was the tip of the spear for the Broncos' defense and his reckless intensity made a massive impact in his team's upset victory over Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII. Atwater was a heat-seeking missile in that title game, making several impact plays that swung momentum Denver's way and knocked off the defending World-Champion Packers.

Also one of the nicest and most genuinely kind men I've ever met, Atwater's reputation around the NFL is sterling. His on-field impact spoke volumes but his off-field character earned him friends and admirers the league over.

Because of that, the response to Atwater's Hall-of-Fame induction both inside and outside of Broncos Country has been immense. Reactions have poured in.

Football Karma

And congratulations to new Hall-of-Famer Steve Atwater, who played as good a game as any safety ever could when Denver won its first Super Bowl in January 1998.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 1, 2020

Steve Atwater is the best example of a Hall of Fame player and a Hall of Fame person. Congratulations, @SteveAtwater27!
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) February 1, 2020

Steve Atwater exemplifies what the HoF is all about. An all-time great human being taking his rightful place among the game's greatest players and figures of all-time. Rejoice, #BroncosCountry! It was only a matter of time before the Wheel of Football Karma rolled his way.
— Chad Jensen (@ChadNJensen) February 1, 2020

Legit shed a tear for @SteveAtwater27 getting into the @ProFootballHOF

My love of the sport came about from watching him play.

Getting to spend time with you each week as an adult, is something teenage me would never have believed.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) February 1, 2020

Steve Atwater is one of the best people I’ve met in sports media. So deserving and so happy for him that he’s finally in the @ProFootballHOF
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) February 1, 2020

Bittersweet

#Broncos legend @SteveAtwater27 lost his mom this fall. He wanted her to see him go into HOF. She’s watching down today with a huge smile. No. 27 is headed to Canton. Congrats my man. My #Denver7 story https://t.co/55vWB5aFCo
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) February 1, 2020

Pat Bowlen Would be Overjoyed

Pretty neat that even though Pat Bowlen didn't make it to Canton until after he died, he's joined by two of his favorite players now: Champ Bailey and Steve Atwater.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) February 1, 2020

Overcome

My wife is currently watching a her 46 year old husband in floods of tears. Steve Atwater is now in the Hall of fame. Wow. Congrats @SteveAtwater27
— Keith @ NFL Scribe (@KeithC_NFL) February 1, 2020

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