Pat Tillman: On the Field

If you’re a fan of football, you’ve probably heard this man’s name before without truly knowing the contributions he made not only on the field, but off the field. Pat Tillman was the definition of an American Hero. Although Pat’s legacy was cut-short due to actions off the field, many can look at his highlights and remember the dominating character he was on the field.

In his years playing college football, Pat was seen as a leader and driving force of the success at Arizona State. He started at linebacker but often played other positions in the defensive backfield. He was often under estimated due to him being slightly under 6 feet tall, but Pat proved his talent as he claimed the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1997, while also being named Arizona State’s MVP in the same year.

Selected with the 226th pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Pat would go on to create a legacy for himself in the few years he was there. In his four years in Arizona, Pat finished his career with 340 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 interceptions for 37 yards, 3 forced fumbles, 15 pass deflections, and 3 fumble recoveries in 60 career games.

Many doubted his ability after they made that pick in 1998, but Pat would answer those skeptics by breaking the franchise record for tackles in 2000 with 224. Many teammates and other staff could go on to talk about the humbleness of Pat after much success, but it was pretty obvious just from how he acted and treated people. After signing a good-size contact with Arizona after the draft, Tillman continued to drive the same vehicle to practice, while not making any effort to spend any of his money.

In his off seasons, Pat would challenge himself physically by entering marathons and half-Ironman triathlons. He not only looked to improve in football, but Pat just wanted to push himself any way he found necessary.

In his short time after football, Pat continued to push himself physically and mentally by further exploring his abilities overseas. Although Pat would eventually meet an untimely death in April of 2004 due to actions in the U.S military, his contributions on his home college and professional fields will live in legacy.

On April 22 of every year, thousands across social media direct their attention on the anniversary of Tillman’s death. Although many show their respect and remember the legacy of this man, many forget to remember the specifics and events that led up to his untimely demise.

As some post in memory of the legacy of Pat, others want to use this time to truly show the tragic events leading up to his death. Although they are not directly blaming anybody, you can definitely feel that they are pointing the finger as they exclaim their frustrations.

Although Pat’s legacy can be seen as tainted due to the War on Terror surrounding his death, his values and principles will be what sets his legacy among his peers. The legacy of Pat Tillman embodies those principles and is used by many across the NFL as a teaching tool for generations to come.

To learn more about the life and legacy of Pat Tillman, visit his foundation page at pattillmanfoundation.org.