Steve Atwater Madden Career 1992-2000 - Peak 99 OVR
Steve Atwater: 8 Pro Bowls, 2 Super Bowls, Canton in 2020
Stephen Dennis Atwater was born on October 28, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois, and played safety at Arkansas, where his 14 career interceptions still stand as the school record. The Denver Broncos drafted him in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft with the 20th pick. He led the team with 129 tackles as a rookie and finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
On September 17, 1990, on Monday Night Football at Mile High Stadium, Atwater met Kansas City running back Christian Okoye at the line of scrimmage in a collision that stopped Okoye and left him on the ground. The Associated Press named Atwater first-team All-Pro in 1991 and 1992, and Madden NFL 93 gave him a calculated 99 for the 1992 season. Madden NFL 95 followed with a calculated 96 for 1994.
Atwater was selected to eight Pro Bowls, seven of them in a row from 1990 through 1996. In Super Bowl XXXII he recorded six solo tackles, a sack and a forced fumble, and Denver won again the next year in Super Bowl XXXIII. Madden NFL 99 listed him at a calculated 88 for the 1998 season. He played 1999 with the New York Jets, then signed a one-day contract to retire as a Bronco. He entered the Broncos Ring of Fame in 2005 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020, with 1,188 tackles and 24 interceptions.
Steve Atwater Madden Career Milestones
- Peak rating: 99 OVR (calculated) in Madden NFL 1993
- Appeared in 9 Madden releases (Madden NFL 1992 through Madden NFL 2000)
- Entered at 56 OVR in Madden NFL 1992, climbed 43 points to his peak
- Biggest single-year rise: 43 points into Madden NFL 1993
- Played for 2 franchises: Broncos, Jets
- Listed as a defensive back in every Madden release
- Final Madden appearance: Madden NFL 2000 at 82 OVR
Steve Atwater Madden Career Ratings
| Madden | Team | Pos | OVR | Speed | ACC | AGI | STR | JMP | STA | INJ | AWR | CAR | BTK | CTH | TAK | MCV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1992 * 1991 NFL season
|
|
FS | 56* | 53 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 26 | - | - | 53 | 59 | - |
|
1993 * 1992 NFL season
|
|
FS | 99* | 99 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 73 | - | - | 99 | 86 | - |
|
1994 * 1993 NFL season
|
|
FS | 82* | 99 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 26 | - | - | 66 | 66 | - |
|
1995 * 1994 NFL season
|
|
SS | 96* | 90 | - | 95 | - | - | - | - | 66 | 98 | 95 | 66 | 95 | 98 |
|
1996 * 1995 NFL season
|
|
FS | 92* | 92 | - | 79 | - | - | - | - | 53 | - | - | 92 | 92 | 86 |
|
1997 1996 NFL season
|
|
FS | 64 | 71 | 66 | 78 | - | 95 | 52 | - | 90 | 19 | 34 | 50 | 94 | - |
|
1998 * 1997 NFL season
|
|
FS | 82* | 86 | - | 73 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 79 | 66 | - |
|
1999 1998 NFL season
|
|
FS | 93* | 78 | 78 | 78 | 62 | - | - | 9 | 98 | 29 | 34 | 49 | 88 | - |
|
2000 1999 NFL season
|
|
FS | 82* | 82 | 80 | 82 | 58 | - | - | 75 | 83 | 49 | 32 | 59 | 76 | - |
Era Defensive Backs who played alongside Steve Atwater
Steve Atwater Madden Ratings by Year
Steve Atwater Madden NFL 1992 rating: 56 OVR (1991 NFL season, DEN). Steve Atwater Madden NFL 1993 rating: 99 OVR (1992 NFL season, DEN). Steve Atwater Madden NFL 1994 rating: 82 OVR (1993 NFL season, DEN). Steve Atwater Madden NFL 1995 rating: 96 OVR (1994 NFL season, DEN). Steve Atwater Madden NFL 1996 rating: 92 OVR (1995 NFL season, DEN). Steve Atwater Madden NFL 1997 rating: 64 OVR (1996 NFL season, DEN). Steve Atwater Madden NFL 1998 rating: 82 OVR (1997 NFL season, DEN). Steve Atwater Madden NFL 1999 rating: 93 OVR (1998 NFL season, DEN). Steve Atwater Madden NFL 2000 rating: 82 OVR (1999 NFL season, NYJ).