ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Safety Steve Atwater, a two-time Super Bowl champion and Broncos Ring of Famer, recently received another honor.
In April, he will be inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.
After hearing the news, Atwater took a few minutes to talk with DenverBroncos.com about the honor, his thoughts on the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the amount of football still in his life.
Where were you when you got the call that you were going into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame?
"Actually I was sitting at my desk in my home office. My former agent and one of my best friends, Peter Schaffer, he sent me a text message to tell me."
Are you excited to be joining a handful of Broncos in the Hall, including most recently former teammate Alfred Williams?
"Most definitely. Colorado has a special place in my heart along with all of my former teammates, other elite athletes there in Colorado. I'm definitely thrilled to receive this honor."
How often are you able to come back to Colorado?
"I get back at least once a year. I've been there twice so far this year -- I came up for the Broncos alumni golf tournament in June and then for Rod Smith when he got inducted into the Ring of Fame at the Houston Texans game about three or four weeks ago. I get back a couple times a year, and it's always great. It's beautiful country out there."
Last year you were a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and you're a candidate again this year. What would it mean to make it to Canton, Ohio?
"Well, it's really something that I have no control over. It's really the sportswriters. It's their opinions. I'm not sure if they have people that they listen to, but it's really up to them. If it happens, I'd be very, very happy. If it doesn't happen, it won't devastate me. I won't be that devastated by it. It's really unfortunate that a lot more offensive players get in. Here recently more defensive players are going in, but especially safeties, I don't think a pure safety has gone in, in many, many years. Most of the safeties that have gone in, they played cornerback and then moved to safety."
What should Broncos fans know about your life today?
"We just recently moved up to Maryland, so we're getting adjusted up here. I've got a son that's a junior in high school, I just started helping coach his team. We've got a daughter that's 11 years old, then my two sons in college, on the weekends we're on the road to their games. This week we'll be going to see Georgetown, they play against Lehigh, so it's going to be a tough game for them. We'll be there rooting him on."
So you're still surrounded by football?
"Yeah, football is just a wonderful sport. It's been really good to me and my family. We love it. I think it's the kind of thing that's just contagious. Once it's in your blood, it's hard to get it out."
