Cincinnati Bengals: 30 greatest players in franchise history
By John Buhler
7. player. 56. . DT. (2010-present). Geno Atkins
- 6x Pro Bowl (2011-12, 2014-17)
- 2x First-Team All-Pro (2012, 2015)
- 1x Second-Team All-Pro (2011)
- 61.0 career quarterback sacks through eight NFL seasons
- 2 10+ sack seasons playing defensive tackle (2012, 2015)
If any current Bengals defensive player stands a realistic shot at earning eventual Canton enshrinement, it would have to be defensive tackle Geno Atkins. In his first eight seasons in The Jungle, all Atkins has done is been a pass-rushing force on the defensive interior as the heart of the Cincinnati defense.
Atkins is the son of former New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins defensive back Gene Atkins. After being a good player for Mark Richt at the University of Georgia, Atkins would fall to the Bengals as a fourth-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. It’s hard to get one’s head around the reality that 119 players were taken ahead of Atkins that spring.
Well, that really doesn’t matter at this point anymore, as Atkins is arguably the best defensive tackle in the AFC today. Through his first eight NFL seasons, Atkins has made the Pro Bowl six times and made three All-Pro teams as well.
Atkins is a bit undersized for a defensive tackle at 6-foot-1, 300 pounds. He uses leverage to his advantage to get up under centers and guards to make plays on ball carriers and the opposing quarterback.
To date, Atkins has 61.0 career quarterback sacks. He is only a few off teammate Carlos Dunlap for the all-time franchise lead. Twice has Atkins gone over 10 sacks in a season. That is remarkable given the position he plays, as sacks are easier to rack up playing out on the edge the in the interior.
Year nine for Atkins in the NFL will be in his age-30 season. Since he is coming off his sixth career trip to the Pro Bowl, it doesn’t seem that Atkins is slowing down any time soon. Would his future hall of fame case be made easier if the Bengals won some playoff games? Sure, but if he keeps up what he has done into his mid-30s, Atkins stands a decent chance at one day making it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.