Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman was a United States Army soldier, American football player, and Arizona State University graduate who left his National Football League career with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the United States Army with his brother Kevin Tillman after the September 11 attacks. He was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and served with the 75th Ranger Regiment. Tillman's decision to leave his football career to join the United States Army was widely reported by CNN, ESPN, and Fox News. His story was also covered by The New York Times, USA Today, and Sports Illustrated.

● Early Life and Education

Pat Tillman was born in San Jose, California, to Mary Tillman and Patrick Tillman Sr., and grew up in New Almaden, California, with his brothers Kevin Tillman and Richard Tillman. He attended Leland High School in San Jose, California, where he played football and baseball and was an excellent student, earning a scholarship to Arizona State University. At Arizona State University, Tillman studied marketing and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, while also playing college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils football team under coach Bruce Snyder. Tillman's college football career was also covered by ABC Sports, CBS Sports, and NBC Sports.

● College Football Career

Tillman played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils football team from 1994 to 1997, where he was a safety and linebacker and was named the Pac-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1997. He was also a member of the All-Pac-10 team and was named to the All-American team by The Associated Press and United Press International. Tillman's college football career was highlighted by games against University of Southern California, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of Oregon. He was also teammates with Jake Plummer, who went on to play for the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos.

● Professional Football Career

The Arizona Cardinals selected Tillman in the 1998 NFL Draft and he played for the team from 1998 to 2001, where he was a safety and special teams player. Tillman was known for his tackling ability and was a fan favorite among Cardinals fans, who watched him play at Sun Devil Stadium and later at Cardinal Stadium. He was also teammates with Jake Plummer, Frank Sanders, and Rob Moore. Tillman's professional football career was covered by ESPN, Fox Sports, and NFL Network.

● Military Service and Death

Tillman enlisted in the United States Army with his brother Kevin Tillman in 2002, and they were both assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment. He completed Ranger School and was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. On April 22, 2004, Tillman was killed in action by friendly fire in the Khost Province of Afghanistan, during a mission with the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. The incident was investigated by the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was widely reported by CNN, BBC News, and Al Jazeera. Tillman's death was also mourned by President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, and General Tommy Franks.

● Legacy and Controversy

Tillman's legacy has been honored by the National Football League, the Arizona Cardinals, and Arizona State University, which have all named awards and facilities after him, including the Pat Tillman Award and the Pat Tillman Veterans Center. However, his death has also been the subject of controversy, with his family and some United States Congress members criticizing the United States Army and the Bush administration for their handling of the incident and for initially covering up the fact that Tillman was killed by friendly fire. The controversy surrounding Tillman's death has been covered by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times. Tillman's story has also been the subject of several books, including Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer and Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman by Mary Tillman.

● Personal Life

Tillman was married to Marie Tillman and had a strong sense of patriotism and public service, which motivated him to leave his football career and join the United States Army. He was also an avid hiker and outdoorsman and enjoyed spending time in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Tillman's personal life and motivations have been the subject of several documentaries, including The Tillman Story and Pat Tillman: A Football Life. His story has also been featured on 60 Minutes, Dateline NBC, and 20/20. Category:American football players