According to multiple media reports, former Oakland Raiders running back George Atkinson III has died at the age of 27. The cause of his death is still unknown, but it was first reported on Monday night.
The Raiders originally signed Atkinson as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame in 2014. He bounced back and forth between the practice squad and active roster for most of his time with the team before being waived in Sept. 2016.
He then caught on with the Browns, where he spent a season before returning to Oakland in July of 2017. After being with the team for training camp and the preseason, he was among the final roster cuts before the regular season that year.
Atkinson then spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets organizations as well.
Atkinson’s twin brother Josh also passed away last December in what was determined to be suicide. They played together at Notre Dame and are the sons of Super Bowl champion George Atkinson II, who also played for the Raiders.
It has been a difficult year for the entire Raiders organization with Willie Brown also passing away a couple of months ago. The community will not come together once again in support of Atkinson and his entire family during their time of mourning.
