Pat Tillman: More Than an Incredible Athlete

Pat Tillmanbiography.comOn the harrowing day of April 22, 2004, the strident sound of a gunshot went off. A young soldier laid dead under the midnight sky near the village of Sperah in southeastern Afghanistan. This young soldier went by the name of Pat Tillman, and lying dead on the battlefield was the last place anyone would expect to find him. Pat Tillman was born on November 6, 1976 in San Jose, California. He grew up in a stable family with his mother and father, Mary and Patrick. Tillman was also the oldest of two energetic brothers, Kevin and Richard. Growing up in a very athletic family, Tillman was strong and displayed his father's quick-twitch and incredible reflexes. At an early age, his amazing athleticism shaped him into a spectacular football player, who was later drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 1994. After witnessing live news coverage of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Tillman felt “guilty for attaching importance to his NFL career” and enlisted in the Army in the spring of 2002. Tillman was a man of great character and strength. He poured his heart into everything he did and never thought twice about putting someone else’s needs before his own. Tillman chose to leave behind all the fame and fortune the NFL promised in order to serve his country, showcasing his courage and compassion. How many people would have the courage and bravery to drop everything and enlist? Pat Tillman is a well-known football star and military officer to many, but behind his athletic ability and commitment to service, he is a hero because of his selfless attitude, bravery in life and on the battlefield, and the ability persevere, despite the inevitable consequences.  

Former Arizona Cardinals safety and U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman is shown in this undated Arizona Cardinals handout photo at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. cbsnews.comTillman’s selflessness and humility guided his decision to enlist in the Army, leaving behind a promising life of fame, fortune, and popularity. Tillman describes how he feels his role as an athlete has become insignificant and irrelevant due to the events America was facing: “When the United States’ invaded Afghanistan, Tillman decided to put his professional career on hold in order to join the U.S. military. ‘Sports embodied many of the qualities I deem meaningful,’ he said in 2002. ‘However these last few years, and especially after recent events, I’ve come to appreciate just how shallow my role is… It’s no longer important’”(Pat Tillman Bio). Pat Tillman was willing to give up his successful career in order to represent his country, overlooking the fame, fortune, and popularity that came with being a sports star. Although Tillman still held immense love for the sport of football, he had a greater desire to put the needs of others before himself. Thus, he made the inspiring and selfless decision to follow his voice, leading him in the direction of the person he truly was. Tillman’s selfless morals and principles guided him through his football career and through his life. Many people admired him for what he stood for, including Dirk Koetter. Dirk Koetter is the head football coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and admires Pat Tillman greatly for his achievements on, and especially off, the field: “‘Football is a selfish sport, and that might be the ultimate unselfish act of any football player in the history of football,’" Koetter said, pointing to the jersey. ‘There have been others, I'm sure. Here's a guy that gave up a multi-million dollar contract to go fight for his country and do it with his brother, and he didn't come back’” (Gale Biography in Context). Through his actions, Pat Tillman proved his selflessness on and off the field. By emphasizing how Tillman’s decision was the “ultimate unselfish act..in the history of football”, Koetter shows how Tillman’s legacy makes him stand out, thus making him worthy of being a hero. Using “ultimate” demonstrates the extremity of Tillman’s decision and the courage it took to be able to follow through with it. Koetter also describes how Pat Tillman’s athletic ability resonated with him, but how he acted upon his abilities will stick with him for the rest of his life. When Tillman made the courageous decision to enlist in the Army, a comfortable home, promising career, and loving family weren’t the only things he was leaving behind: “His decision to leave the sport to join the military garnered a lot of media attention; some had a hard time believing that Tillman would give up all of the perks of being a professional athlete to fight for his country. Yet Tillman turned down a three-year $3.6 million dollar contract with the Cardinals to enlist” (Pat Tillman Bio). Once again, this proves Tillman’s selflessness and humility because it illustrates the amount of money Tillman was leaving behind to put himself on the line to protect his country. Many people had a “hard time believing that Tillman would give up all of the perks of being a professional athlete to fight for his country.” Tillman was courageously willing to step out beyond the social norms and follow his heart in the right direction. Tillman knew his purpose in life—this guided him through the selfless decision to walk away from a football career and into a greater calling.

Pat Tillman (left) and his brother Kevin (right)pattillmanfoundation.orgWebster’s Dictionary defines “hero” as a person “who shows great courage”. It also defines “courage” as having “strength in the face of pain or grief”. Sports fans use these words to describe professional athletes every day. Tillman is the epitome of what bravery and courage represent. He was always willing to put his life on the line in order to protect others and benefit his country. However, being a professional athlete didn’t quench Tillman’s inner thirst to make a difference. He decided he wanted to fight for something greater than himself: “The day after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Pat told 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’”(Pat Tillman Foundation). Tillman describes how he felt he hadn’t done “a damn thing” to make an impact on his country and risk his life for the principles America stands for. This demonstrates how passionate he was about doing something that mattered. Pat Tillman was willing to give up his eminent career in order to represent his country. He didn’t care about the luxuries that came with being a sports star. Instead, he believed that his true role in life was to help people and make a significant impact on the lives of others. Thus, he made the inspiring and selfless decision to follow his voice, which ultimately led him to become the person he wished to be. Not only did Pat Tillman take the challenge of enlisting in the Army, he volunteered for several dangerous tours that ultimately left his life up to chance: “Tillman served in several tours of duty, including time in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as a stay in Afghanistan to serve in Operation Enduring freedom” (Pat Tillman). This statement illustrates Tilman’s ambitious attitude and competitive spirit. His decision to leave a comfortable home, promising NFL football career, and loved ones behind revealed his inspiring bravery and courage. Tillman risked his life everyday in battle and never thought twice about protecting others, even if his life was on the line. Tillman once said, “somewhere inside we hear a voice. It leads us in the direction of the person we wish to become. But it is up to us whether or not to follow.” Pat Tillman listened to his voice and never thought twice about following it. He gave up everything in order to represent America’s flag and ultimately sacrificed his life for the people he loved.

Pat Tillman is a well-known football star and military officer to many, but behind his athletic ability and commitment to service, he was a hero because of his selflessness, bravery, and perseverance. Pat Tillman displayed these characteristics in all aspects of life, knowing the consequences that he was up against. Tillman’s personal principles guided his life and the life of others: “Tillman was, by all accounts, kind, humble, intelligent, courageous, and well intentioned. He clearly inspired many, many people whom he met, and others he never met, to be better people” (Swanson). Tillman was an inspiration to many people, even the ones he had never met. Tillman’s many positive traits are what people looked up to and strive to have in their own lives. Throughout his life, Tillman became more than an example to his teammates; his morals and principles were admired and used to guide and enrich the lives of his family, friends, and fans. Tillman’s heart is what shone the brightest throughout his life and continues to light the way for many others.

Works Cited

Auman, Greg. "TILLMAN'S LEGACY VISIBLE TO KOETTER; The Bucs coach has just one jersey on his wall - of a player he never coached." Tampa Bay Times [St. Petersburg, FL], 14 Sept. 2016, p. 1. Biography In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A463414061/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=aad0cb30. Accessed 27 Mar. 2018.

“Investing in Military Veterans and Their Spouses through Academic Scholarships.” Pat Tillman Foundation, pattillmanfoundation.org/our-story/.

Kemp, Jack. "Pat Tillman: True All-American. (Cover Story)." Human Events, vol. 60, no. 15, 03 May 2004, p. 1. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b6h&AN=13126614&site=brc-live.

"Pat Tillman."Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.

"Pat Tillman." Encyclopedia of World Biography, vol. 36, Gale, 2016. Biography In Context,https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1631010546/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=187045a0. Accessed 26 Mar. 2018.

"Pat Tillman." Gale Biography in Context, Gale, 2004. Biography In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1650004135/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=6f380871. Accessed 26 Mar. 2018.

Tillman, Mary. Boots on the Ground by Dusk. New York:Modern Times, 2008. Print.