Hall of Fame defensive end Doug Atkins spent his first two years as a professional with the Cleveland Browns where he was on the 1954 NFL title-winning team. After being traded to the Chicago Bears, Atkins career really took off. Atkins led a dominant Chicago defense where he was a four-time All-Pro selection and a World Champion with the Bears in 1963.

Atkins wore this offered Chicago Bears road white jersey during his career in Chicago. This approximately sized 52 jersey was manufactured by King O’Shea and can be dated prior to the 1966 season based on the fact that Atkins wore the number “81” up until his last season in Chicago during 1966. Marty Amsler wore “81” for the Bears in 1967-1969. The Bears did not add names to the jerseys until 1970. The Bears had also switched to Wilson jerseys in the early 1970s and added names directly to the recycled O’Shea jerseys and there is no evidence of either letters or a nameplate on this shirt. In 1969, the NFL celebrated their 50th Anniversary and patches were worn on the left shoulder to commemorate this. This jersey does not have this patch and there is no evidence of stitch marks in the shape of the patch on left shoulder. The jersey shows excessive game use with numerous team repairs, toning. The blue “8” on the front of the jersey is missing, with only parts of the orange border remaining.  The bottom of the jersey appears to have been cut to a shortened length and the two numbers on the back of the jersey are loose in some areas, but are still intact. The striping on the sleeves of the jersey display bleeding of the blue and the sleeves have also been cut. This jersey comes with a full LOA from noted game used jersey expert Dave Miedema.

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