Tillman, Pat (1976-2004), an American football player, became famous for leaving the sport to serve in the military after the September 11 terrorist attacks upon the United States. Tillman was later killed in the line of duty while serving in the Afghanistan War.
Patrick Daniel Tillman was born Nov. 6, 1976, in Fremont, California. He grew up in San Jose. In high school, he showed talent in football, developing a reputation as a spirited player. He also excelled as a student, graduating early.
Tillman played college football at Arizona State University from 1994 to 1997, mostly as a linebacker. In 1997, he was named Defensive Player of the Year for the Pac-10 conference, a highly competitive college athletic conference in the western United States. He graduated summa cum laude (with highest honors) with a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 1997. He was selected as a safety by the Arizona Cardinals in the final round of the 1998 National Football League (NFL) draft. In the 2000 season, he set a team record with 224 tackles.
After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Tillman enlisted in the military. He became a United States Army Ranger in 2002. In 2003, he was deployed to Afghanistan. On April 22, 2004, Tillman’s unit clashed with Afghan rebels in the village of Spera, Khost Province. Tillman was shot and killed. The Army first reported that he had been killed by the rebels. Later investigations revealed that Tillman was shot by U.S. Army troops as a result of poor communication.
Following his death, Tillman was awarded the Silver Star, for valor in combat, and the Purple Heart, awarded to those injured or killed in the line of duty. His jersey number 40 was retired by the Arizona Cardinals, and his jersey number 42 was retired by Arizona State University.
