Chargers Add Veteran Safety Atari Bigby to Roster

San Diego, California - The San Diego Chargers agreed Friday on a two-year contract with veteran safety Atari Bigby.

Bigby, now entering his seventh official NFL season, has played in 61 NFL games, starting 27 for Green Bay in 2007-09.  The 30-year-old safety made his professional debut on Christmas in 2005 after bouncing between three teams as an undrafted rookie. He spent most of 2005-06 on Green Bay’s practice squad before becoming a starter for the Packers in 2007.

The NFC Defensive Player of the Month in December 2007, Bigby made four interceptions as Green Bay went 3-1 and secured the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. A shoulder injury cut short his ’08 season, but he started for the Packers again in ’09.

Bigby, 5-foot-11 and 213 pounds, made 18 tackles and a sack in 15 games as a reserve last season for Seattle.

The Chargers expect third-year safety Darrell Stuckey, a key special teams player, to compete for playing time as well, Head Coach Norv Turner said in January.

Bigby becomes the eighth unrestricted free agent signed by San Diego since Tuesday: SS Atari Bigby, T Jared Gaither, OLB Jarret Johnson, FB Le’Ron McClain, WR Robert Meachem, WR-PR Eddie Royal, TE Kory Sperry and QB Charlie Whitehurst.  This does not include C Nick Hardwick who was signed just hours before becoming a free agent.