Moved by 9/11 Misfortune, Former Arizona Cardinal Laid Down His NFL Career to Serve Higher Calling

Over the years, the NFL has given us many heroes. Whether it’s Tom Brady and his iconic championship pedigree or Robert Kraft’s off-the-field fight for equality, the NFL fraternity has been blessed with heroes pouring in their blood sweat, and tears for an end goal that transcends their very existence. Yet, there are a few unsung heroes who deserve to be celebrated, not just for their mental fortitude but for the sacrifices they made for the betterment of the USA.

One such hero came out of San Jose, California. After putting on impressive high school performances from 1990-1994, Pat Tillman was touted to take the jump and make it to the NFL. Drafted by Arizona Cardinals in the 7th round in 1998, Tillman’s tenure in the league was short-lived but not due to injuries but an event that churned many existential questions in the young phenom. Eventually, Tillman laid it all on the line to fulfill his greater calling.

The making of a hero

Pat Tillman’s NFL career was successful in its own right. While Tillman and his abilities were constantly questioned, the former Arizona State University phenom quickly shut down the noise by becoming the team’s starting safety and broke the franchise record for tackles in 2000 with 224. Despite all the success thrown his way, Pat Tillman stuck to his roots, driving to games in the same beat-up truck he had in college and continuing with his commitment to healthy debates and mind-boggling discussions.

However, something changed on the unfortunate day of September 11, 2001. The gruesome attacks left Tillman questioning his purpose in life and he even shared the same with a reporter, “At times like this you stop and think about just how good we have it, what kind of system we live in, and the freedoms we are allowed. A lot of my family has gone and fought in wars and I really haven’t done a damn thing.”

The next year Tillman married his high school sweetheart and upon his return to the Cardinals declared that he was going to put on his NFL career on hold and enlist in the Army. Along with his brother, Kevin, Pat Tillman joined the U.S. Army in July 2022, committing to a three-year tenure but even Tillman wasn’t aware of the challenges that stared him in the face.

An unfortunate end

The Tillman brothers were assigned to the second battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Lewis, Washington. After successfully serving tours in Iraq, Tillman’s unit was deployed to Afghanistan during ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ in 2004. It was the 22nd of April, 2004, as the unit was ambushed. Tillman did his best to provide cover for his fellow soldiers as they escaped, and just like his NFL career Tillman this time sacrificed his very life to fulfill his commitment to the USA.

Read more: ES Explains: NFL DB Pat Tillman’s Death in Afghanistan Remains a Mystery. Why? – EssentiallySports

However, the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Tillman’s untimely death weren’t just limited to battle as his cause of death was deemed to be fratricide or friendly fire. Haunted by the demons of that unfortunate night, Steve Elliot, recalled the gruesome details during an interaction with NPR’s ‘All Things Considered’, “We’d all been firing our weapons at various positions, up to that point, effectively enemy positions, The sun had been set for roughly 20 minutes, so the lighting conditions were poor, to say the least.”

According to forensic evidence, Elliot’s weapon wasn’t the one that ended Tillman’s life, yet that news was barely comforting to Elliot. He still carries the burden of what happened that day and hopes to have a conversation with the Tillman family sometime in the future. Since then, the Pat Tillman Foundation has continued honoring the life and times of the American Hero and hopefully, his story will continue inspiring others for the years to follow as well.

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