In Memory of Pat Tillman

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Apr 22, 2014

In Memory of Pat Tillman

Remembering Pat Tillman

Gene Lower /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

April 22nd marked 10 years since the death of former NFL player and Army Ranger Pat Tillman, who was killed in a "friendly fire" incident while serving with the 2nd Army Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. On this Memorial Day, as we remember all of those military members who have sacrificed, here are some photos of Tillman and tributes in his honor over the years.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Tillman played his college ball at Arizona State, where he was an outstanding linebacker.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Tillman holds up the ball after intercepting a pass by Stanford quarterback Chad Hutchinson. Tillman was voted the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year his senior season.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman with his one of his brothers after an Arizona State game. Tillman was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Tillman chases down Ohio State quarterback Stanley Jackson during the Rose Bowl in 1997.

Remembering Pat Tillman

One of the college all-stars picked to play in the 1998 East-West Shrine Classic, Tillman got ready for the game by practicing at Stanford University.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman and his fiance, Marie, in 1998.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Tillman with his brothers: Richard, left, and Kevin, right, on his wedding day.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Pat and Marie Tillman on their wedding day.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Tillman played four seasons with the Cardinals after being taken with the 226th pick in the 1998 draft. Here he attempts to tackle Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb in November 2000.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Tillman tackles San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice in an October 2000 game.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Tillman moved from linebacker to safety in the NFL and started in 10 games as a rookie.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Gene Lower (Photo by Gene Lower /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

Tillman had three interceptions, 2.5 sacks and 238 tackles in his NFL career.

Remembering Pat Tillman

New York Giants tight end Dan Campbell can't hold on to the football for a touchdown as Tillman defends during a 2001 game.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman bikes to his dorm after a training camp practice with the Cardinals in 2002.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Tillman turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract offer from Arizona to join the Army Rangers.

Remembering Pat Tillman

He enlisted in the Army in May 2002, in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Remembering Pat Tillman

AP Photo/Columbus Ledger Enquirer, Mike Haskey

Pat Tillman marches as guidon bearer during graduation ceremonies for his unit in October 2002, at Fort Benning, Ga.

Remembering Pat Tillman

AP Photo/Photography Plus via Williamson Stealth Media Solutions

Shortly after his graduation from Army Ranger training in Georgia, Tillman was deployed to Afghanistan to battle the Taliban.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman with fellow Rangers in Afghanistan.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Pat (left) and his brother Kevin were deployed to Saudi Arabia for the U.S. invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman Sr. speaks at a public memorial for his son, who died in the mountains of Afghanistan. Tillman was the first pro football player to be killed in combat since 1970, when Bob Kalsu died in the Vietnam War.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Fans sign a memorial for Tillman. More than a month after his death, the Pentagon disclosed that he had died as a result of friendly fire.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Rudy Lopez,a former U.S. Army Ranger, of Phoenix, pays tribute at a memorial for Tillman.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Wheaties put out a special box in Tillman's honor.

Remembering Pat Tillman

AP Photo/San JoseMercury News, Jim Gensheimer

Pat, Marie and Mary Tillman stand next to framed jerseys as Leland (Calif.) High football coach Terry Hardtke speaks at a dedication ceremony in San Jose. Tillman helped Leland to a Central Coast Division I Football Championship. The school retired his jersey and named the new athletic field after him.

Remembering Pat Tillman

A photo of Tillman sits at the Cardinals table before the start of the 2004 NFL draft.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Eli Manning talks of the phone to someone in the San Diego Chargers orginization after being selected by them as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. Manning was wearing a ribbon with the name and number of Pat Tillman.

Remembering Pat Tillman

A crowd gathers to remember Tillman at a May 2004 memorial service at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Helicopters fly over Giants Stadium in honor of Tillman before the start of a September 2004 game between the New York Giants and Washington Redskins.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers and all the NFL players helmets were adorned with No. 40 on Sept. 19, 2004, in memory of Tillman.

Remembering Pat Tillman

The Arizona Cardinals retired Tillman's number on Sept. 19, 2004.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Team and family members of Pat Tillman honor his jersey retirement during halftime of the Arizona State Sun Devils game against the Washington State Cougars on Nov. 13, 2004.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Members of the Washington State Cougars run across a memorial painted in the end zone for Tillman during their Pac-10 game against Arizona State in November 2004.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Students and fans display a poster honoring Tillman at the final home game of the Sun Devil's 2004 season. Tillman's number was retired during a halftime ceremony on the same day.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Tillman was honored with a statue outside the University of Phoenix Stadium before the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 12, 2006.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Tillman received posthumous Silver Star and Purple Heart medals for his service.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Fans adorned the Pat Tillman statue with American flags in honor of the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Remembering Pat Tillman

REUTERS/USO Photo by Dave Gatley/Handout (AFGHANISTAN)

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, center, visits the marker honoring Tillman at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Tillman near Spera, Afghanistan, in July 2008. Goodell was joined by New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora (left) and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Miami Dolphins rookie first-round draft pick Jake Long looks at the Pat Tillman display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in Canton, Ohio, in June 2008. Rookies from all NFL teams toured the Hall of Fame to acquire a better understanding of pro football history.