“[It’s] awesome,” President of Football Operations/GM John Elway said. “Another Bronco getting in there, and especially a guy like Steve Atwater, who No. 1 is just a champ of a guy, but also now obviously a Hall of Fame football player. [I’m] so thrilled that he got in there, and [he’s] another representative for the Broncos. We’re getting more deserving guys in there. I’m really thrilled for Steve and his whole family that he was able to get in there.”
Only 24 men in NFL history have been selected to at least eight Pro Bowls and started at least three Super Bowls. With Atwater’s and Polamalu’s election, 22 of the 24 are now members of the Hall of Fame. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are the other two, but they are both not yet eligible.
Best known for his punishing hit on Christian Okoye, Atwater changed the nature of the safety position.