Steve Atwater: Pick #20 in the 1989 NFL Draft

Steve Atwater is a former free safety out of Arkansas, selected by the Denver Broncos with the 20th overall pick (round 1) in the 1989 NFL Draft. He played 167 regular-season games from 1989 to 1999. From 1999 on, he played for the New York Jets. He was named to 8 Pro Bowls and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Draft Details

Year

1989

Round

Round 1

Pick

20th overall

Team

Denver Broncos

Position

FS

College

Arkansas

Steve Atwater Career Stats

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
8× Pro Bowl selection, 2× first-team All-Pro.
Primary starter for 11 seasons.
Ranks 7th in the 1989 draft class in interceptions (24).

Career Totals

Games	Sacks	Def INT
167	5	24

Defense

Season	Team	G	Solo	Ast	TFL	Sacks	QB Hits	INT	PD	FF
1999	NYJ	11	26	20	0	0	0	0	1	1
Since 1999		11	26	20	0	0	0	0	1	1

G = games with at least one recorded statistic; the career games total in the summary above includes every game played.

Season-by-season detail is available from 1999 on; career totals above cover the full career.

Source: nflverse · Updated Sep 28, 2026

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1	1	DAL	Troy Aikman	QB	UCLA, Oklahoma
1	1	DAL	Steve Walsh	QB	Miami
1	2	GB	Tony Mandarich	G	Michigan State
1	2	ARI	Timm Rosenbach	QB	Washington State
1	3	DEN	Bobby Humphrey	RB	Alabama
1	3	DET	Barry Sanders	RB	Oklahoma State
1	4	KC	Derrick Thomas	OLB	Alabama
1	5	ATL	Deion Sanders	CB	Florida State
1	6	TB	Broderick Thomas	LB	Nebraska
1	7	PIT	Tim Worley	RB	Georgia