Dave Atkins (born May 18, 1949) is an American football coach and former running back.NFL Statistics - Dave Atkins
/ref> Atkins was the 19th pick in the 8th round of the 1973 NFL Draft. He joined the San Francisco 49ers for the 1973 and 1974 seasons before moving to the

San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...

for the 1975 season. After Atkins finished his pro playing career, he moved into coaching. He had spells as offensive coordinator for the

Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division, and play t ...

and was the senior

offensive Offensive may refer to: * Offensive, the former name of the Dutch political party Socialist Alternative * Offensive (military), an attack * Offensive language ** Fighting words or insulting language, words that by their very utterance inflict inj ...

assistant

coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Co ...

for the Cleveland Browns for two seasons, 2005 - 2007. A longtime assistant coach, usually coaching running backs, he had various success coaching skill position players and coordinating offenses. 1986 RB Keith Byars ran for 577 yards with 1 touchdown. In 1987, Byars and FB Anthony Toney would combine to run for 899 yards with 8 touchdowns. In 1988, the same duo would combine for 1,019 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. In 1989, the tandem of Byars & Toney would be even better running for 1,034 yards and 8 touchdowns. In 1990, RB/FB

Heath Sherman Heath B. Sherman (born March 27, 1967) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Texas A&I University and was drafte ...

took over for Byars and his combination with Toney ran for 1,137 yards and 2 touchdowns. In 1992, Atkins took over the tight ends and helped

Pat Beach Patrick Jesse Beach (born December 28, 1959) is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons for the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, and Phoenix Cardinals. He ...

into a solid run blocker as the team helped

Herschel Walker Herschel Junior Walker (born March 3, 1962) is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. He was also the Republican nominee in the 2022 United States Senate election in Georgia. ...

and Heath Sherman run for a combined 1,653 yards. Dave Atkins would join the

New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...

for the 1993 NFL season. He would help guide Leonard Russell to 1,088 yards with 7 touchdowns. The next year, Atkins would go to the

as their Offensive Coordinator. Despite some struggles in 1994, quarterbacks Steve Beuerlein and

Jay Schroeder Jay Brian Schroeder (born June 28, 1961) is an American former professional football quarterback. He played college football at UCLA, after which he was selected in the third round (83rd overall) of the 1984 NFL draft by the Washington Redskin ...

combined to throw for 3,055 yards with 9 touchdowns. FB

Larry Centers Larry Eugene Centers (born June 1, 1968) is a former American football fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, mostly for his first-team, the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals (1990–1998). Centers then played for the Washington ...

had 647 yards receiving. The offense improved in 1995 with quarterback

Dave Krieg David Michael Krieg ( ; born October 20, 1958) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He attended Milton College in his home state of Wisconsin and made the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. I ...

throwing for 3,554 yards and 16 touchdowns. RB Garrison Hearst also ran for 1,070 yards with 1 touchdown and 3 players: Larry Centers, Rob Moore, and Frank Sanders finished with over 880 yards receiving. Atkins would go to the New Orleans Saints for a single season in 1996. RB

Mario Bates Mario Doniel Bates (born January 16, 1973) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, and the Detroit Lions. His brother, Michael, also played in the NFL. Playi ...

and FB Ray Zellars would combine to run for 1,059 yards with 8 touchdowns despite the team going 3–13 on the year. Returning to the New Orleans Saints in 2000, Atkins would be instrumental in the development of Ricky Williams in 2000 & 2001 (1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns then 1,245 yards and 6 touchdowns) and

Deuce McAllister Dulymus Jenod "Deuce" McAllister (born December 27, 1978) is an American former football running back who played eight seasons for the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Ole Miss and was dr ...

in 2002-2004 (4,103 yards and 30 touchdowns on the ground over that 3-year span). Before retiring, Atkins would coach with the Cleveland Browns in 2005 and 2006. He would guide Reuben Droughns to 1,232 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2005 and 758 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2006. In 2019, he became running backs coach for the

Los Angeles Wildcats Los Angeles Wildcats is a name shared by several American football teams from Los Angeles: * Los Angeles Wildcats (AFL), a team that played in the American Football League of 1926 * Los Angeles Wildcats (Minor League AFL), a team that played in the ...

of the XFL.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkins, Dave 1949 births Living people Arizona Cardinals coaches Cleveland Browns coaches Los Angeles Wildcats coaches Minnesota Vikings coaches National Football League offensive coordinators New England Patriots coaches New Orleans Saints coaches Philadelphia Eagles coaches San Diego Chargers players San Diego State Aztecs football coaches San Francisco 49ers players UTEP Miners football players