| Billy Atkins | |
| Number: | 29, 20, 2, 28 |
| Position: | Punter Safety |
| Birth Date: | 19 November 1934 |
| Birth Place: | Millport, Alabama, U.S. |
| Death Place: | El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 1 |
| Weight Lb: | 196 |
| High School: | Millport |
| College: | Auburn |
| Draftyear: | 1958 |
| Draftround: | 5 |
| Draftpick: | 59 |
| Pastteams: |
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| Pastcoaching: |
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| Pastadmin: |
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| Highlights: |
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| Statleague: | AFL/NFL |
| Statlabel1: | Punts |
| Statvalue1: | 221 |
| Statlabel2: | Punting yards |
| Statvalue2: | 9,203 |
| Statlabel3: | Punting average |
| Statvalue3: | 41.6 |
| Statlabel4: | Longest punt |
| Statvalue4: | 70 |
| Statlabel5: | Interceptions |
| Statvalue5: | 20 |
| Statlabel6: | Interception yards |
| Statvalue6: | 217 |
| Statlabel7: | Total touchdowns |
| Statvalue7: | 1 |
| Pfr: | A/AtkiBi00 |
William Ellis Atkins (November 19, 1934 – November 5, 1991)[2] was an American football professional safety and punter who played for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL), and in the American Football League (AFL) for the Buffalo Bills, the New York Titans / Jets, and the Denver Broncos. He was an AFL All-Star in 1961. He played college football at Auburn.
On January 8, 1966, Atkins was named the head coach of the Troy State Trojans football team. In 1968, he coached Troy State to an NAIA National Championship and was named the NAIA Coach of the Year. Atkins finished at Troy State with a 44–16–2 record before leaving in 1971. He is the second-most winningest coach in Troy history, only behind Larry Blakeney.
Atkins' son, author William Ellis "Ace" Atkins Jr., also played football at Auburn and was member of the 1993 undefeated team.[3] [4]