I remember C. Okoye rushing in the pro-bowl and 2 LBs and Ronnie Lott all hit Okoye at nearly the same time. He got back up and was in the huddle before any of the three were off the floor. the fact that we are still talking about him 20 yrs later shows what a beast he was and how good this hit was.
only safety I've seen hit harder played at Texas Tech about 5 years ago, dwayne slay he played 1-2 years in the NFL, never heard what happened to him.
I watched this hit on monday night football when I was in the sixth grade. I recorded it on vhs and would watch that hit to get fired up before my pop warner games.
As a broncos fan I will never forget atwater and will always miss him he was my hero back in the day. He was the hardest hitting player the broncos have ever had and because of him he helped us to win our first super bowl.
DUDE AND OKOYE WAS A BIG FAST SON OF A BITCH, AND HE GOT BUT SQUARE ON HIS ASS. DAMN ATWATER WAS GREAT, SOME WHAT UNDERRATED IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS
this is it. why do people put up videos with titles like "biggest hit ever" and its not this?its always some safety hitting a wr who is looking back for the ball totally defenseless. atwater did that too but he also did this. only thing that can compare is ray lewis vs bettis. open field full speed, they both see each other the whole time and are head to head, and neither backs down, trying to make it an angle shot. it was a draw unlike this but it was fierce.
This one is my pick. Saw this whole show years ago. This one ranked like 4th or 5th, but I thought and still think it's no. 1. I loved Okoye when he was playing and I hated the Bronco's. But, give the Devil his due. That hit defied the laws of physics.
Atwater had some of the best hits ever, along with Lott and some others. Not just Okoye but also that collision with another DB late in the Packers/Broncos SB, that was vicious, one of the hardest hits i've ever seen. Lucky they weren't seriously hurt. Okoye hadn't played football for most of his life and didn't know how to hit the way Atwater did.
In the few interviews I've seen, he struck me as a very likeable guy. He had a Hell of a career, amongst the greatest ever at his position. As much of an Okoye fan as I was, tell him that hit made me jump out of my chair. I'll never forget it.
Christan Okoye was 6"4 and 245 pounds, Steve Atwater was 5"10 and 185 pounds, that's why it's the greatest hit, Atwater27 laid him flat on his back and Okoye came straight at him and squared his shoulders. Atwater ended his career and that ain't no lie. Greatest hit EVER!!!!!
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LOL, okoye was 6'1 255 lbs, ran like a candyass, and had piss poor running habits.....Atwater was 6'3 220 and had leverage on okoye's pussy ass on that hit......get your facts straight.
oh he was a pussy? so you could tackle him? i mean since you said he was a pussy you could tackle him. i mean id believe ya if this is ray lewis or lawrence talyor im talking to? is it? no? ok then so im sure your more of a pussy than okoye
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haha! that was nothing! i heard of this on a forum, and me playing rugby, this is just like a guy running in with his shoulder and his arms in front of him
these guys are all pussies with their big armour on
they dont fucking need it
look at fucking rugby players they arent hiding behind pieces of plastic and massive armour
these guys should go for the fucking ankles and pick the guy up and dump him on his back
hahaha! No matter what type of clip I watch, gridiron or rugby, some jerk off on the other side of the ocean will say stupid shit about the sport they don't prefer. Gridiron rules! Rugby rules! Neither sport involves tiny men kicking a round ball aimlessly around the pitch.
WRONG! Okoye never scored in that game. That games was 9/17/90. Okoye finished the night with 69 yards on 20 carries. And his only carry over 10 yards came before that hit. Okoye only scored 2 TDs in his entire career against Denver. That hit by Atwater literally finished the Nigerian Nightmare legend. Okoye played 3 more seasons, but he finished 1990 with only one 100 yard game, and from 1990 to 1992, he only had 4 total 100 yard games.
@jwizzie23 dude, i COMPLETELY understand why you'd say that, but i was being fixated and now i take that back. so i'm sorry. but do you think atwater's at least ok in real life, if not cool?
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big deal.....freakin okoye had piss poor running habits half the time, and it dont matter what your size is, if you stutter step and square yourself up and the DB gets a running start, it dont matter if you're 190 or 360 pounds, you're going on your ass! Notice how this was Okoye, and NOT BO!!
Who you talking about? Okoye? Or Bo? If you're talking okoye, HELL YEA! Okoye took shots like that constantly when he was in the league. That was just a famous one because it was on MNF and everyone made a stink of it. Now dont EVEN bring up Bo and Atwater LMAO! NOBODY wants to get in that argument.
No BUT I DID earlier. And yea Bo HAS trampled over atwater. Hell look up Bo Jackson's run on here, and look at his famous run in Denver running right through Atwater (not to mention half the denver defense). Atwater can do that shit to Okoye, but couldnt touch BO!
Yeah, nobody was better than Bo, that's why many great backs have rushed for 2K in a season and Bo's CAREER rushing yard total is a whopping 2782 yds.
yeah he did actually. On NFL network they showed atwater hitting okoye and then he taunts him, walks away to celebrate, then comes back says alright big boy get up and he helps him up
You know who i always freaking hated more than life but would have loved to have had him on our side merton hanks..Some might say thats sacreligious and my own fav name for him in the early 90s was lil B$%tch! But the kid could play
Atwater is one of my all time favorite Broncos. I am glad he was able to retire a Bronco after 1 year with the Jets. Its too bad no one seems to remember DS49. Dennis Smith. He was the most punishing Safety I ever saw, and that includes Ronnie Lott.
And one more thing, everybody thinks because Okoye was big that meant he ran people over. Actually, he was really fast for his size and broke a lot of arm tackles. But he was never really the type of back that pummeled defensive players. Look at some of the hits put on him when he first came into the league. Just type in Christian Okoye Nigerian Nightmare. I think his mentality was to friendly to be the pummeling type of back.
I loved Steve Atwater, that man was a real safety during his time. He had CB cover skills, and he hit like a LB. The man was a true professional, and he deserves to be in the HOF.
The NFL Network is retarded. They had Bob Sanders as number 1. I dont know if it was for only active players though. Sanders is a strong leg tackler but dont get carried away. Polamalu and Sanders are about the same, strong leg tacklers.
Cutlers not going anywhere if the coach did that he would be out of there. Bowlen wouldnt allow that. As much as I hate that man for firing Shanahan he wouldnt fuck up that bad. Marshall's girlfriend keeps filing false reports its going to catch up with that bitch sometime.
@MrBlemph Yeah Mcdaniels ruined us. Hopefully Elway can bring us back. I'm optimistic as long as John is behind the helm. Pat Bowlen I read is getting old he has to be getting alzheimers or something. Hopefully we can get a tight end who can catch also.
He clearly lowers his head and shoulders and tries to run over Atwater. If you think he's trying to make a cut, then you know nothing about football obviously.
Then why were his feet in front of his whole body before contact? You would think if he was gonna try to run Atwater over he would at least be lunging forward.
that was a hit!!! i dont think okoye was about to make a cut. i just think atwater was ready to hit him and got lower than okoye and blasted him. that was a hit!!!
Atwater didnt have many hits though. I remember this one because Atwater was miked for the game. Like a previous poster said, it did look like Okoye was about to make a cut. I think the hardest hitting safety of the last 50 years has to go to John Lynch. But people dont want to mention him because he's white lol.
Has nothing to do wit him being white, if u cn hit u can hit u can hit simple as that. And lynch is def up there hands down, but I go wit ronnie lott personally
Dont hate the white man kiddo. The proof is in the pudding. I like Ronnie Lott too. Still, if you know anything about football you know the difference between hitting a defenseless player and one that is ready for the hit kiddo. Lynch usually tried to hit people straight up, just like atwater did against Okoye in this video. Its easy to knock a receiver on his kiester when he isnt expecting it.
This hit was pretty much the end for Christian Okoye. Atwater should be a Hall Of Famer, but since Denver gets no respect in Canton, he never will be.
Yeah, but I remember when Bo Jackson fucking buried Atwater on a power sweep. Atwater thought he was going to take him on high. Big mistake. Bo fucking planted him five yards down the field.
I also remember when bennie blades of the lions knocked bo jackson unconcious. in 1989 in detroit. plus, who gives a fuck about bo jackson?? Atwater deserves HOF recognition, Bo Jackson, not so much..
Two things, skippy. Those teams didn't play in '89. In Bo's only trip to Detroit, he never got knocked out by anybody, but he did rip the Lions for 129 yards. Nice try, tho.
ok sorry professor, maybe it wasn't in 1989, but it was against the lions and yes, he came out of the game. it was also one of the last plays in bennie blades career because he tore up his rotator cuff. so your not 100% right. and im pretty sure okoye is a much bigger back then bo jackson, so it's not like bo jackson was invincible, actually, he was a prima donna if you ask me. always wanting more money. he's a joke.
Say what you want about Bo's personality, but for four years, he was the most amazing back ever. Blazing speed, incredible power. He ran by Kenny Easley like he was standing still in an amazing 1987 game at Seattle. In the same game, he carried Brian Bosworth into the endzone.
For anybody who wants to downplay Atwater's hit, name somebody else who has laid out Christian Okeye like that? I loved watching Okeye but Atwater made one of the greatest hits in NFL history. Peace.
I hope you dont mean Rod Woodson, he was really a cornerback before he tore his knee up and left the steelers.. one of my faves of all-time though. recognized on the 75th anniversary team
I realize Sean Taylor's career was cut short but he may have supplanted Lott as the best ever. Too many players are overrated when they are a part of a dynasty. I guarantee Lott wouldn't have been nearly as successful without being protected by the offense. It's alot easier to light people up when you know that the other team is in a one-dimensional passing mode trying to come back from the huge deficits the 49ers put on teams back then.
You really are way off on this comment. 1979 niners were 2-14 and 1980 they were 6-10, with one of the worst defenses in the league. 1981 they drafted Lott to fix there abysmal secondary. He recorded 7 interceptions his rookie year 3 of which he returned for touchdowns. Lott is considered one of the main reasons the team won the superbowl that year. Even in 1991 when he went to the raiders he had 8 interceptions.
Gtor, can you honestly say Lott was a bigger reason for the 49ers success than Bill Walsh and Joe Montana? The Niners were already improving under Walsh as he was only in his 3rd season in 1981. 2-14, 6-10, then Montana comes in along with Lott and 13-3 plus SB. I am not saying Lott wasn't great but if you are telling me he was a bigger reason for the success of the Niners than Walsh and Montana, you are delusional. Remember, I only said Taylor MAY have supplanted Lott.
Stats are stats. They only tell part of the story. Do you think you'll get alot of INTS playing for a losing team? Rarely if ever. Teams/players that post high INT totals usually have a high margin of victory. As I stated in my original post, big hits as well as INTS come in bunches when the other guys are down 3TDs. Imagine a game 27-10 late 3Q, Which team will throw more INTs,the team with 27 pts,running the clock out, or 10 pts forced to throw every down? Equalized yeah right.
Ronnie Lott was the head, heart, and soul of that defense. I love Montana and Walsh, both of which were just as much key contributers to the success of the niners. But I honestly feel that if Lott was not on the 1981 team they wouldn't have that superbowl ring. Infact the niners dynasty may have never exsisted without Lott. I agree stats are stats but lets be honest here, in 2007 FS O.J. Atogwe had 8 Interceptions and the rams went 3-13. Lott would have been just as great on any squad.
What I am trying to get at is your overated comment. "Too many players are overrated when they are a part of a dynasty. I guarantee Lott wouldn't have been nearly as successful without being protected by the offense" I really think thats wrong. Great players are great players weather on shitty teams or good teams. If Lott was on a bad team he would have been a shining star like Barry Sanders.
I'll agree with you that Lott would've been great on bad teams. I just have to challenge the experts when they claim so and so is the greatest. Jerry Rice-Great Player Undoubtedly. As great without Montana, John Taylor, Roger Craig....and the Niners-Hell No. How was Young before he got to SF? 11TDs,21INTS for TB then 10TDs 0INTS
his first year with the niners? Would he have been a HOF with the Bucs? Hell No. Playing for a dynasty to me leaves room for debate as to how great a player is?
You're right he would have. However, would he have been considered the greatest of all time? Unlikely. Seriously? I watched Marino his entire career. There are actually idiots who think Tom Brady is better than him. Are you kidding me? All i'm saying is lets put the players on the worst teams and see who makes a bigger impact. Brady is the most overrated player ever. Look at Cassel. Now this guy is a hot commodity and he didn't even play in college. Dynasty=System=Success=Overrated.
I think there is a list of 4 QB's better than Brady, with Marino being one of them. Its tough because there are so many ways of juding greatness. I agree with your rationale and feel that Barry Sanders is the greatest RB ever to play the game, but that can be argued and it often is. The one thing that is known by all sports fanis is that Rice is the greatest WR ever to play the game. No one will ever challenge that statement. Regardless of his team, you can never call Rice overrated.
about the comments on okoye off balance: obviously, without bias, he WAS getting ready to stutter/side step when he got hit. still, he was not off balance, but also not at full speed. but you cannot take anything away from the hit by Atwater.
Right after hands down G.O.A.T. Ronnie Lott, I'd put Steve Atwater for the hardest hitting FS in NFL history-and I wouldn't want to try and make a living on the difference.
Easily one the best safeties of his era. He gets overlooked sometimes because they played during the time of Lott but players like Atwater, Dennis Smith, Andre Waters and Wes Hopkins were always underrated and I loved watching them play.
He WAS about to cut and that took some steam off the 10yd head start hea had (Okoye). But people don't realize that Steve Atwater was 6'3 220lbs. This was during a time where FS like Ronnie Lott was 5'11-6'0 and only 200lbs. Still a GREAT HIT!
i remember this on MNF. I jumped up immediatly. I played FS in HS at the time and remember Okoye was running over everyone and everything until that night. If you ask me it looked like Okoye saw the hit coming and "turtle shelled" to absorb as much as he could. Still the hit I refer people to when they want to see a good clean football hit.
He got dominated... don't know what video you were watching. There was no resetting of his feet and was not off balance. He was leaning forward, thus he was leading into the hit, feet planted. He just got owned.
Okay, you're not going to convince me I'm wrong considering its obvious he stopped before the hit. I highly doubt he stopped because he was afraid. Either way, I don't care what you think so please leave me alone.
In lieu of all of the contorversy swirling around Troy Polamalu's recent comments, I can come to no other conclusion than that Atwater needs to produce some videos teaching young football players how to hit properly. His hits hurt, but he never led with the helmet and he proved that a shoulder shot can still be an awesome layout.
I have to check out this hit every so often because I remember watching this game on TV when it happened. Brings back some good memories for me. Say what you want - Steve Atwater was a BEAST! GO BRONCOS!
If you freeze it at 36 seconds it shows Okoye jumping over a down defender..as soon as his feet touched the ground Atwater made the hit...so Okoye was not going full blast.
Okoye didn't jump over anybody. it was just a hard ass hit by one of the best defensive backs at the time. Atwater was never afraid to make a hit. Look at the superbowl against the packers late in the game
Dem0925 is right, at first I though he must have lost his footing and simply been suspended in the air and knocked back, but he's got two feet on the ground, he was full force coming at Atwater. When he hit him, Atwater kept his ground with his back leg, and then used all the energy in his compressed arm to send Okoye tumbling back. It wasn't the hit that made Okoye fly back, it was the push after he was stopped and lost his balance.
I guess it's like hitting a wall covered in ballistic gel.
Okoye got rocked by Atwater that night. Say what you want. And yes, he was unstoppable before the hit and never was the same afterwards. Career (mental) ending hit, end of story.
Your actually right on that one ... Bo well you would have to at least catch Bo first he was suppose to be the hardest back to get a solid hit on EVER!!!
He had a hip injury playing baseball never recovered . Atwater hit hard 14 15 years in Denver to his last year in NY he had no problem with a open field tackle with BO.
Bo's initial hip injury was on a long touchdown run, he was grabbed by his pads (horse collar tackle) and pulled down akwardly...he never was the same
" I was looking around to see who the heck made that hit,...I shoulda known."
CLASSIC !!!
WeLiveForFootball 3 months ago
Christian Okoye was never the same...
ilovebridgit 3 months ago
20 something years later Okoye is still missing...
canarinhoamazon 5 months ago 3
I remember C. Okoye rushing in the pro-bowl and 2 LBs and Ronnie Lott all hit Okoye at nearly the same time. He got back up and was in the huddle before any of the three were off the floor. the fact that we are still talking about him 20 yrs later shows what a beast he was and how good this hit was.
RoyG72 11 months ago
only safety I've seen hit harder played at Texas Tech about 5 years ago, dwayne slay he played 1-2 years in the NFL, never heard what happened to him.
JackieFan123 1 year ago
Wonder how much Atwater would get fined for a hit like that today? They fine for every goddamn hit it seems!
gmorales14 1 year ago
I THINK RONNIE LOTT GOT A GOOD HIT ON OKOYE ALSO
dabuzebruvaz 1 year ago
God I miss watching Atwater nail people like that, jeez that guy was a beast!
MusikMajor 1 year ago
My favorite safety all-time right there. What a beast.
Jayme969 1 year ago
He'd like to have hit Kirk Wright even harder.
BladeJones 1 year ago
I watched this hit on monday night football when I was in the sixth grade. I recorded it on vhs and would watch that hit to get fired up before my pop warner games.
theEdinero 1 year ago
Elways looks like a lesbian
SonDimz 1 year ago
@thEEvallEyb0y209
stalker status or what? ^_^
haha I'm a junior
XTacoMangX 1 year ago
He'll remember that number tomorrow!
859jack 1 year ago
@thEEvallEyb0y209
haha siiick!
I go to Atwater high :D
XTacoMangX 1 year ago
@thEEvallEyb0y209
Same here :D
California?
XTacoMangX 1 year ago
"Yeah!"
MajorLeeScrewed 1 year ago
As a broncos fan I will never forget atwater and will always miss him he was my hero back in the day. He was the hardest hitting player the broncos have ever had and because of him he helped us to win our first super bowl.
HunterCO1 1 year ago
DUDE AND OKOYE WAS A BIG FAST SON OF A BITCH, AND HE GOT BUT SQUARE ON HIS ASS. DAMN ATWATER WAS GREAT, SOME WHAT UNDERRATED IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS
JOEHATCH213 1 year ago
Atwater could hit but couldn't cover worth a damn.
WeVoteRight 1 year ago
@WeVoteRight
that's why he was free safety.
masterpimpcs 1 year ago
this is it. why do people put up videos with titles like "biggest hit ever" and its not this?its always some safety hitting a wr who is looking back for the ball totally defenseless. atwater did that too but he also did this. only thing that can compare is ray lewis vs bettis. open field full speed, they both see each other the whole time and are head to head, and neither backs down, trying to make it an angle shot. it was a draw unlike this but it was fierce.
gerbschmitt 1 year ago
This one is my pick. Saw this whole show years ago. This one ranked like 4th or 5th, but I thought and still think it's no. 1. I loved Okoye when he was playing and I hated the Bronco's. But, give the Devil his due. That hit defied the laws of physics.
Grumpkin67 1 year ago
Atwater had some of the best hits ever, along with Lott and some others. Not just Okoye but also that collision with another DB late in the Packers/Broncos SB, that was vicious, one of the hardest hits i've ever seen. Lucky they weren't seriously hurt. Okoye hadn't played football for most of his life and didn't know how to hit the way Atwater did.
hardcorehouse 2 years ago
My Hero
djpoppy1 2 years ago
Steve Atwater is my cousin. He is also an exceptional person in addition to being a big hitter.
kelly1920 2 years ago 2
Please tell him he has a loyal fan in Stockholm, Sweden. This play keeps me motivated in life:)
TheMavenFrankeus 1 year ago
In the few interviews I've seen, he struck me as a very likeable guy. He had a Hell of a career, amongst the greatest ever at his position. As much of an Okoye fan as I was, tell him that hit made me jump out of my chair. I'll never forget it.
Grumpkin67 1 year ago
Christan Okoye was 6"4 and 245 pounds, Steve Atwater was 5"10 and 185 pounds, that's why it's the greatest hit, Atwater27 laid him flat on his back and Okoye came straight at him and squared his shoulders. Atwater ended his career and that ain't no lie. Greatest hit EVER!!!!!
salazar2772 2 years ago
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LOL, okoye was 6'1 255 lbs, ran like a candyass, and had piss poor running habits.....Atwater was 6'3 220 and had leverage on okoye's pussy ass on that hit......get your facts straight.
takedown998 2 years ago
oh he was a pussy? so you could tackle him? i mean since you said he was a pussy you could tackle him. i mean id believe ya if this is ray lewis or lawrence talyor im talking to? is it? no? ok then so im sure your more of a pussy than okoye
bigcommon33 2 years ago
Actually, takedown998 is Elvis Grbac's YouTube account name.
zjg5001 2 years ago
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hey check this out......... FUCK Y0U
lbfamguy 2 years ago
@salazar2772
Atwater was actually 6'3 218 and Okoye was 6'1 253 still a great hit but they where closer in size then people think. Atwater was a big safety
Meatbat24 2 years ago
he will remember that number tomorrow!
859jack 2 years ago
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haha! that was nothing! i heard of this on a forum, and me playing rugby, this is just like a guy running in with his shoulder and his arms in front of him
these guys are all pussies with their big armour on
they dont fucking need it
look at fucking rugby players they arent hiding behind pieces of plastic and massive armour
these guys should go for the fucking ankles and pick the guy up and dump him on his back
thats how you tackle someone
1337NoobLord 2 years ago
You are able to hit much harder with pads.
I played rugby and football. Rugby is a tough sport , but you get jhit 10x harder in football.
stackdb 2 years ago 13
hahaha! No matter what type of clip I watch, gridiron or rugby, some jerk off on the other side of the ocean will say stupid shit about the sport they don't prefer. Gridiron rules! Rugby rules! Neither sport involves tiny men kicking a round ball aimlessly around the pitch.
gregdancingmachine 2 years ago
well i was just saying how everyone here thinks this was a "monster hit" or greatest NFL hit or any of that shit
its not at all
but yes good last sentence
1337NoobLord 2 years ago
Rugby players don't run full out when tackling. Otherwise, they'd have more serious injuries. Rugby is a man's game but a much different sport.
LUTS67 2 years ago
atwater belongs in the Hall
starang21 2 years ago
Atwater was Da Man! My alltime favorite Razorback!
chano4692 2 years ago
Danger! Atwater ahead!
honkey450 2 years ago
i was a little kid when i saw this haha nice!
PonyBoy619 2 years ago
he would score on the next play, no one remembers that
dudemanjack98 2 years ago
WRONG! Okoye never scored in that game. That games was 9/17/90. Okoye finished the night with 69 yards on 20 carries. And his only carry over 10 yards came before that hit. Okoye only scored 2 TDs in his entire career against Denver. That hit by Atwater literally finished the Nigerian Nightmare legend. Okoye played 3 more seasons, but he finished 1990 with only one 100 yard game, and from 1990 to 1992, he only had 4 total 100 yard games.
thecatsfan 2 years ago
ATWATER WAS A BEAST
CSCBroncosfan 2 years ago 16
@CSCBroncosfan idk why but i wanna see steve atwater fight mma's royce gracie so he can get his arm broken off. OPINIONS PLEASE?!?!
1992lance 1 year ago
@1992lance I dunno why but I get the feeling your a hater....
jwizzie23 1 year ago
@jwizzie23 dude, i COMPLETELY understand why you'd say that, but i was being fixated and now i take that back. so i'm sorry. but do you think atwater's at least ok in real life, if not cool?
1992lance 1 year ago
@CSCBroncosfan was? he still is
jaybulls98 6 months ago
The End Of The Nigerian Nightmare.
RepublicMan4ever 2 years ago
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big deal.....freakin okoye had piss poor running habits half the time, and it dont matter what your size is, if you stutter step and square yourself up and the DB gets a running start, it dont matter if you're 190 or 360 pounds, you're going on your ass! Notice how this was Okoye, and NOT BO!!
takedown998 2 years ago
Did anybody else blast him like that? U make it sound so easy why aren't u in the league? Stop hatin' chump!
ChrisinEC 2 years ago
Who you talking about? Okoye? Or Bo? If you're talking okoye, HELL YEA! Okoye took shots like that constantly when he was in the league. That was just a famous one because it was on MNF and everyone made a stink of it. Now dont EVEN bring up Bo and Atwater LMAO! NOBODY wants to get in that argument.
takedown998 2 years ago
Did I mention Bo? But, u don't know what would've happened 'cuz nobody just ran through Atwater. U can hate all you want but the man was a beast.
ChrisinEC 2 years ago
No BUT I DID earlier. And yea Bo HAS trampled over atwater. Hell look up Bo Jackson's run on here, and look at his famous run in Denver running right through Atwater (not to mention half the denver defense). Atwater can do that shit to Okoye, but couldnt touch BO!
takedown998 2 years ago
Yeah, nobody was better than Bo, that's why many great backs have rushed for 2K in a season and Bo's CAREER rushing yard total is a whopping 2782 yds.
bisquik3006 2 years ago
Of those backs, name one that played less than half a season and had a better average?
takedown998 2 years ago
That I don't know, but I do know Dickerson had 925 (Bo 950) in his first 8 games, and there are two 1/2's to every season.
bisquik3006 2 years ago
Atwater, along with Ken Easley. Jack Tatum and Ronnie Lott, the three hardest hitting DB's maybe in history.
Great fun to watch this guy play.
zenmachinefilms 2 years ago
I love Lott's game, but I don't think he was THAT big of a hitter. Ever of Doug Plank? They named the Bears defense after his number......46
ChrisinEC 2 years ago
Yeah, Doug was a brute. Good call.
zenmachinefilms 2 years ago
That's a tough argument, but I would put Dennis Smith in the top 3 way over Lott. DS had more KO's than anyone I ever watched play.
bisquik3006 2 years ago
Dennis was another great DB., Atwater basically was his protoge.
zenmachinefilms 2 years ago
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He didn't help him up, dumbass. He stood over him briefly, taunted him a bit and then walked away. You just watched the video! Are you kidding me?
domn8r59 2 years ago
yeah he did actually. On NFL network they showed atwater hitting okoye and then he taunts him, walks away to celebrate, then comes back says alright big boy get up and he helps him up
CptChris562 2 years ago
oh did he? lol don't act like you know kid
kayaksta 2 years ago
um yes i do know. I posted this video from a longer video from NFL network
CptChris562 2 years ago
i don't believe i was replying to you...i was replying to dom8r59
my bad
kayaksta 2 years ago
oh haha
CptChris562 2 years ago
Steve Atwater...NONE better!
kayaksta 2 years ago 2
i also remember him helping Okoye up after that hit too. Pure class, Atwater
kayaksta 2 years ago 2
i heard that hit knocked the "will to play football" out of that back...
roycearandolph 2 years ago
He'll remember that number tomorrow!
859jack 2 years ago
You know who i always freaking hated more than life but would have loved to have had him on our side merton hanks..Some might say thats sacreligious and my own fav name for him in the early 90s was lil B$%tch! But the kid could play
mindofmorrison 2 years ago
merton hanks ? long necked freak idiot, he is lucky he still has a head....what a long skinny neck on mr hanks
cholulasaucehot 2 years ago
Chuck Cecil was a bad motherfucker too, the NFL kick his ass out the league.
rudebwoy1974 2 years ago
Man Chuck Cecil was a mutherfucking nightmare. I do remember the league said "we have to get this motherfucker out of here before he kills someone".
You're a POS but you're right though dude, Chuck was the nastiest dude to ever play DB.
TempeSoldier123 2 years ago
Atwater is one of my all time favorite Broncos. I am glad he was able to retire a Bronco after 1 year with the Jets. Its too bad no one seems to remember DS49. Dennis Smith. He was the most punishing Safety I ever saw, and that includes Ronnie Lott.
brncoman1 2 years ago
And one more thing, everybody thinks because Okoye was big that meant he ran people over. Actually, he was really fast for his size and broke a lot of arm tackles. But he was never really the type of back that pummeled defensive players. Look at some of the hits put on him when he first came into the league. Just type in Christian Okoye Nigerian Nightmare. I think his mentality was to friendly to be the pummeling type of back.
stylicho 2 years ago
That play basically summed up his career. One of my favorite players of all time.
Jman16119 2 years ago
I loved Steve Atwater, that man was a real safety during his time. He had CB cover skills, and he hit like a LB. The man was a true professional, and he deserves to be in the HOF.
TheTrillz 2 years ago
Steve Atwater hit harder than John Lynch and now that we got Dawkins we will be in the playoffs again. Waited 9 years for this again its about time.
euskaldanak 2 years ago
they both were hitters. on NFL network top 10 they rated John Lynch #10 most feared tackler and Steve Atwater #9
CptChris562 2 years ago
The NFL Network is retarded. They had Bob Sanders as number 1. I dont know if it was for only active players though. Sanders is a strong leg tackler but dont get carried away. Polamalu and Sanders are about the same, strong leg tacklers.
stylicho 2 years ago
Denver in the playoffs ??? this is bad comedy....
Cutler the crybaby wants out, Marshall got arrested again.
not looking good for the Broncos.
pumpkins667 2 years ago
Cutlers not going anywhere if the coach did that he would be out of there. Bowlen wouldnt allow that. As much as I hate that man for firing Shanahan he wouldnt fuck up that bad. Marshall's girlfriend keeps filing false reports its going to catch up with that bitch sometime.
euskaldanak 2 years ago
@euskaldanak I know that was an old post and we're still waiting to get back to the playoffs. Unfortanately it's not looking too great right now...
MrBlemph 10 months ago
@MrBlemph Yeah Mcdaniels ruined us. Hopefully Elway can bring us back. I'm optimistic as long as John is behind the helm. Pat Bowlen I read is getting old he has to be getting alzheimers or something. Hopefully we can get a tight end who can catch also.
euskaldanak 10 months ago
Dennis Smith hardly ever gets mentioned but that guy was an animal. Imagine Smith and Lott played in the same defensive backfield at USC.
broncofangj 2 years ago
He clearly lowers his head and shoulders and tries to run over Atwater. If you think he's trying to make a cut, then you know nothing about football obviously.
Jikk 3 years ago 2
Then why were his feet in front of his whole body before contact? You would think if he was gonna try to run Atwater over he would at least be lunging forward.
stylicho 2 years ago
that was a hit!!! i dont think okoye was about to make a cut. i just think atwater was ready to hit him and got lower than okoye and blasted him. that was a hit!!!
mariow83 3 years ago
Yeah, I think Okoye was just getting low because he was trying to run Atwater over.
waterboy51 3 years ago 2
Yeah. No cut. Okoye just got flattened.
Punstyle 3 years ago
Atwater didnt have many hits though. I remember this one because Atwater was miked for the game. Like a previous poster said, it did look like Okoye was about to make a cut. I think the hardest hitting safety of the last 50 years has to go to John Lynch. But people dont want to mention him because he's white lol.
stylicho 3 years ago
Has nothing to do wit him being white, if u cn hit u can hit u can hit simple as that. And lynch is def up there hands down, but I go wit ronnie lott personally
NubiansRuledTheWorld 3 years ago
I think Ronnie Lott was better.
donjabroni 2 years ago
lol john lynch ? your an idiot kid.....
ronnie lott
steve atwater
donnie shell
bill bates
chuck cecil
jack tatum
to name a few kiddo
cholulasaucehot 2 years ago
Dont hate the white man kiddo. The proof is in the pudding. I like Ronnie Lott too. Still, if you know anything about football you know the difference between hitting a defenseless player and one that is ready for the hit kiddo. Lynch usually tried to hit people straight up, just like atwater did against Okoye in this video. Its easy to knock a receiver on his kiester when he isnt expecting it.
stylicho 2 years ago
kid ? im old enough to be your father son....
you never even heard of chuch cecil you little shit......
he was on the cover of sports illustrated before your soft head flopped out of your mothers gaping stank hole.....
cholulasaucehot 2 years ago
lol, just shut up while your ahead.
stylicho 2 years ago
you mean while merton hanks is still a "head". lol
taylor1129611 2 years ago
great lineup bro some of the roughest guys to ever put on a helmet
BloodBoxing 2 years ago 3
Bill Bates dont belong on this list man!
rudebwoy1974 2 years ago
Nahhhhhhhhhhhhh, neither does steve tasker.....you know nothin kiddo
cholulasaucehot 2 years ago
It looks like that from the front, but from the side, it's looks like he lowered the boom and tried to go through him.
You should have known.
Okoye did not have good football balance when he first came to the NFL.
raahr 3 years ago
whichever, I would have rather been atwater than okoye
raahr 3 years ago
looks like Okoye stopped to make a cut and got caught.
DANCEEXPONETS 3 years ago
This hit was pretty much the end for Christian Okoye. Atwater should be a Hall Of Famer, but since Denver gets no respect in Canton, he never will be.
Gooster43 3 years ago
Yeah, but I remember when Bo Jackson fucking buried Atwater on a power sweep. Atwater thought he was going to take him on high. Big mistake. Bo fucking planted him five yards down the field.
fruticetum 3 years ago
I also remember when bennie blades of the lions knocked bo jackson unconcious. in 1989 in detroit. plus, who gives a fuck about bo jackson?? Atwater deserves HOF recognition, Bo Jackson, not so much..
jmillar191 3 years ago
Two things, skippy. Those teams didn't play in '89. In Bo's only trip to Detroit, he never got knocked out by anybody, but he did rip the Lions for 129 yards. Nice try, tho.
fruticetum 3 years ago
ok sorry professor, maybe it wasn't in 1989, but it was against the lions and yes, he came out of the game. it was also one of the last plays in bennie blades career because he tore up his rotator cuff. so your not 100% right. and im pretty sure okoye is a much bigger back then bo jackson, so it's not like bo jackson was invincible, actually, he was a prima donna if you ask me. always wanting more money. he's a joke.
jmillar191 3 years ago
Say what you want about Bo's personality, but for four years, he was the most amazing back ever. Blazing speed, incredible power. He ran by Kenny Easley like he was standing still in an amazing 1987 game at Seattle. In the same game, he carried Brian Bosworth into the endzone.
Best ever.
fruticetum 3 years ago
Atwater. My fav DB or all-time. Growing up watching football with my pop, I would watch Denver games JUST to see him hit people.
ACaljr 3 years ago
that's what I'm talkin about!
kylesteinhauser 3 years ago
For anybody who wants to downplay Atwater's hit, name somebody else who has laid out Christian Okeye like that? I loved watching Okeye but Atwater made one of the greatest hits in NFL history. Peace.
wgbarnes101 3 years ago
Peace?
jtms1122 3 years ago
Top 3 safeties ever in order
Lott
Atwater
Harrison
In the arguement Polamalu and Woodson
loverightj76 3 years ago
Rodney Harrison? what about B. Dawkins? Sean Taylor (RIP 21)?
killaroc 3 years ago
oh snap! Weapon X is def up there and Sean Taylor while cut short was amazing
loverightj76 3 years ago
I hope you dont mean Rod Woodson, he was really a cornerback before he tore his knee up and left the steelers.. one of my faves of all-time though. recognized on the 75th anniversary team
bigmike2899 3 years ago
Talk about hardest hitting safeties what about John Lynch?
stylicho 3 years ago
I realize Sean Taylor's career was cut short but he may have supplanted Lott as the best ever. Too many players are overrated when they are a part of a dynasty. I guarantee Lott wouldn't have been nearly as successful without being protected by the offense. It's alot easier to light people up when you know that the other team is in a one-dimensional passing mode trying to come back from the huge deficits the 49ers put on teams back then.
mozart6023 3 years ago
You really are way off on this comment. 1979 niners were 2-14 and 1980 they were 6-10, with one of the worst defenses in the league. 1981 they drafted Lott to fix there abysmal secondary. He recorded 7 interceptions his rookie year 3 of which he returned for touchdowns. Lott is considered one of the main reasons the team won the superbowl that year. Even in 1991 when he went to the raiders he had 8 interceptions.
Mozart6023 you have just been equalized!!!!!!!
Gtor3636 3 years ago
Gtor, can you honestly say Lott was a bigger reason for the 49ers success than Bill Walsh and Joe Montana? The Niners were already improving under Walsh as he was only in his 3rd season in 1981. 2-14, 6-10, then Montana comes in along with Lott and 13-3 plus SB. I am not saying Lott wasn't great but if you are telling me he was a bigger reason for the success of the Niners than Walsh and Montana, you are delusional. Remember, I only said Taylor MAY have supplanted Lott.
mozart6023 3 years ago
Stats are stats. They only tell part of the story. Do you think you'll get alot of INTS playing for a losing team? Rarely if ever. Teams/players that post high INT totals usually have a high margin of victory. As I stated in my original post, big hits as well as INTS come in bunches when the other guys are down 3TDs. Imagine a game 27-10 late 3Q, Which team will throw more INTs,the team with 27 pts,running the clock out, or 10 pts forced to throw every down? Equalized yeah right.
mozart6023 3 years ago
Ronnie Lott was the head, heart, and soul of that defense. I love Montana and Walsh, both of which were just as much key contributers to the success of the niners. But I honestly feel that if Lott was not on the 1981 team they wouldn't have that superbowl ring. Infact the niners dynasty may have never exsisted without Lott. I agree stats are stats but lets be honest here, in 2007 FS O.J. Atogwe had 8 Interceptions and the rams went 3-13. Lott would have been just as great on any squad.
Gtor3636 3 years ago
What I am trying to get at is your overated comment. "Too many players are overrated when they are a part of a dynasty. I guarantee Lott wouldn't have been nearly as successful without being protected by the offense" I really think thats wrong. Great players are great players weather on shitty teams or good teams. If Lott was on a bad team he would have been a shining star like Barry Sanders.
Gtor3636 3 years ago
I'll agree with you that Lott would've been great on bad teams. I just have to challenge the experts when they claim so and so is the greatest. Jerry Rice-Great Player Undoubtedly. As great without Montana, John Taylor, Roger Craig....and the Niners-Hell No. How was Young before he got to SF? 11TDs,21INTS for TB then 10TDs 0INTS
his first year with the niners? Would he have been a HOF with the Bucs? Hell No. Playing for a dynasty to me leaves room for debate as to how great a player is?
mozart6023 3 years ago
You're right he would have. However, would he have been considered the greatest of all time? Unlikely. Seriously? I watched Marino his entire career. There are actually idiots who think Tom Brady is better than him. Are you kidding me? All i'm saying is lets put the players on the worst teams and see who makes a bigger impact. Brady is the most overrated player ever. Look at Cassel. Now this guy is a hot commodity and he didn't even play in college. Dynasty=System=Success=Overrated.
mozart6023 3 years ago
I think there is a list of 4 QB's better than Brady, with Marino being one of them. Its tough because there are so many ways of juding greatness. I agree with your rationale and feel that Barry Sanders is the greatest RB ever to play the game, but that can be argued and it often is. The one thing that is known by all sports fanis is that Rice is the greatest WR ever to play the game. No one will ever challenge that statement. Regardless of his team, you can never call Rice overrated.
Gtor3636 3 years ago
oh my bad, watching it again, he was going forward full speed, about to put his head down.. my bad
bbailey75 3 years ago
about the comments on okoye off balance: obviously, without bias, he WAS getting ready to stutter/side step when he got hit. still, he was not off balance, but also not at full speed. but you cannot take anything away from the hit by Atwater.
bbailey75 3 years ago
timeless. i remember the game, and hearing the hit on the tv.
bbailey75 3 years ago
Right after hands down G.O.A.T. Ronnie Lott, I'd put Steve Atwater for the hardest hitting FS in NFL history-and I wouldn't want to try and make a living on the difference.
rogerrodd 3 years ago
Easily one the best safeties of his era. He gets overlooked sometimes because they played during the time of Lott but players like Atwater, Dennis Smith, Andre Waters and Wes Hopkins were always underrated and I loved watching them play.
2phillyjay2 3 years ago
Atwater was a big hitter. If you like this, go find the vid where he obliterates Robert Brooks running deep post in the Superbowl vs Pakers. Nasty
treyglock 3 years ago
He WAS about to cut and that took some steam off the 10yd head start hea had (Okoye). But people don't realize that Steve Atwater was 6'3 220lbs. This was during a time where FS like Ronnie Lott was 5'11-6'0 and only 200lbs. Still a GREAT HIT!
drbayoms 3 years ago
i remember this on MNF. I jumped up immediatly. I played FS in HS at the time and remember Okoye was running over everyone and everything until that night. If you ask me it looked like Okoye saw the hit coming and "turtle shelled" to absorb as much as he could. Still the hit I refer people to when they want to see a good clean football hit.
wmr72 3 years ago
Overrated. Okeye was resetting his feet and was off balance. Atwater hit him at the right time.
earnhardt316 3 years ago
"Resetting his feet" and "off balance"? He'd already sprinted 10 strides and was cutting. . . He got blasted. Accept it.
drockromero 3 years ago
He was off balance and it's easy to see. Please, watch it again.
earnhardt316 3 years ago
"resetting his feet" looks like he was getting ready for the hit and still got laid the fuck out!
nitramyellek 3 years ago
Maybe. Just said what I saw and what I think happened.
earnhardt316 3 years ago
He got dominated... don't know what video you were watching. There was no resetting of his feet and was not off balance. He was leaning forward, thus he was leading into the hit, feet planted. He just got owned.
Poapst 3 years ago
Okay, you're not going to convince me I'm wrong considering its obvious he stopped before the hit. I highly doubt he stopped because he was afraid. Either way, I don't care what you think so please leave me alone.
earnhardt316 3 years ago
Yep, he was off balance... After the hit haha
roddoliver 3 years ago 2
haha yup
CptChris562 3 years ago
In lieu of all of the contorversy swirling around Troy Polamalu's recent comments, I can come to no other conclusion than that Atwater needs to produce some videos teaching young football players how to hit properly. His hits hurt, but he never led with the helmet and he proved that a shoulder shot can still be an awesome layout.
BradGiovanniItalia 3 years ago 2
Quite possibly the most bad-ass hit of all-time
ewoldt 3 years ago 5
I have to check out this hit every so often because I remember watching this game on TV when it happened. Brings back some good memories for me. Say what you want - Steve Atwater was a BEAST! GO BRONCOS!
orion8251 3 years ago 4
Gyeh!!!
kweli05 3 years ago
that was sweet!!!
xfinder0 3 years ago
If you freeze it at 36 seconds it shows Okoye jumping over a down defender..as soon as his feet touched the ground Atwater made the hit...so Okoye was not going full blast.
ToroRosso20 3 years ago
Okoye didn't jump over anybody. it was just a hard ass hit by one of the best defensive backs at the time. Atwater was never afraid to make a hit. Look at the superbowl against the packers late in the game
dem0925 3 years ago 6
I 100% agree with your comment
CptChris562 3 years ago
Dem0925 is right, at first I though he must have lost his footing and simply been suspended in the air and knocked back, but he's got two feet on the ground, he was full force coming at Atwater. When he hit him, Atwater kept his ground with his back leg, and then used all the energy in his compressed arm to send Okoye tumbling back. It wasn't the hit that made Okoye fly back, it was the push after he was stopped and lost his balance.
I guess it's like hitting a wall covered in ballistic gel.
guitarman63mm 3 years ago
Okoye got rocked by Atwater that night. Say what you want. And yes, he was unstoppable before the hit and never was the same afterwards. Career (mental) ending hit, end of story.
brinmeliss10 3 years ago 2
Okoye did not have good position on the ground..watch his feet & legs he would have feel back if Elway could push him..
ToroRosso20 3 years ago
Uh No, he was leaning forward....he had a base, just Atwater came at him like a nut....
deltapunk21 3 years ago
One of my all time favorites!
EBJ0424 3 years ago
an even better hit was when Dennis Smith absouteyl *unloaded* on Thurman Thomas in the 2nd quarter of the 1991 AFC Championship game in Buffalo. :)
atwater8991 3 years ago
The hardest hitting free safety ever in the NFL -- Steve Atwater!
JerrimeWilliams30 3 years ago 5
i disagree with you... i rank him number 3
djkrockk 3 years ago
absolutely...sorry 'bout that!
atwater8991 3 years ago
that hit was not better you should be ashamed of yourself sayin that with your name being atwater ?
i seen this hit live
atwater was an animal and okoya's career went down the tubes after that hit believe it or not,
cholulasaucehot 3 years ago
That, in all likelihood, was also THE highlight of the Broncos' season in 1990, as they tumbled to a dismal 5-11 season.
ChristianKidsShowFan 2 years ago
Steve could do that to any Back, seen him make many big hits on great backs
hogwildandwired 3 years ago
what's funny is that woulda never happned to Bo Jackson
Pimpin729 3 years ago
Your actually right on that one ... Bo well you would have to at least catch Bo first he was suppose to be the hardest back to get a solid hit on EVER!!!
ABOMB6999 3 years ago
Why do you say that? Bo went down playing baseball.
stillnailing 3 years ago
what u mean he went down?
Pimpin729 3 years ago
He had a hip injury playing baseball never recovered . Atwater hit hard 14 15 years in Denver to his last year in NY he had no problem with a open field tackle with BO.
MCCRIDLEY 3 years ago 2
Bo's initial hip injury was on a long touchdown run, he was grabbed by his pads (horse collar tackle) and pulled down akwardly...he never was the same
hconda1 3 years ago
Go back a little further the the first time he hurt it was base ball.I think he was a great ball player but he never recovered from it
stillnailing 3 years ago
your wrong it was the horse collar in a football game so stop talkin shit you have no clue
cholulasaucehot 3 years ago