Tim Atkins

Tim Atkins begins his fourth season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022, now as Assistant Secondary Coach.

During Tampa Bay's 2020 title season, Atkins contributed to a defense that led the league in rush defense (80.6 rush yards allowed per game) for the second-consecutive season, while also ranking sixth in total yards allowed per game (327.1) and eighth in points allowed per game (22.2). Additionally, the Buccaneers defense allowed the fifth-fewest first downs (19.9) and tallied the seventh-most sacks per pass attempt (7.78%).

In his first year in Tampa Bay, Atkins led quality control efforts for a defense that finished first against the run and fifth in takeaways. In addition, Tampa Bay's defense made a noticeable second-half turnaround as it lowered its yards per game allowed average from 371.6 yards per game through the first eight games to 316.3 over the final eight games, which ranked eighth in the NFL from Weeks 9-17.

Atkins followed Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator Todd Bowles to Tampa Bay, who he worked under for three seasons (2016-18) as defensive quality control coach for the New York Jets. Prior to his time with the Jets, Atkins charted games for the Cleveland Browns for two seasons (2014-15) and served as a Buffalo Bills defensive assistant from 2011-12. That followed a one-season stint with the UFL's Florida Tuskers (2010). Atkins broke into the NFL as a defensive assistant for the Miami Dolphins from 2006-08 before becoming a defensive graduate assistant at Florida Atlantic University (2008-09). He also coached on the collegiate level for Whittier College as wide receivers coach (2005) and safeties coach (2004).