Pat Tillman

Bio

The first-ever Arizona State player to be named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, Pat Tillman is the sixth Sun Devil to be named to the College Football Hall of Fame. A two-time first-team Academic All-Pac10 selection, Tillman led the Sun Devils to the 1996 Pac-10 title and a berth in the Rose Bowl. Early that season, Pat was the leading force of a defense that shut out Nebraska. The two-time defending national champions saw a 26-game win streak snapped and the Huskers were shut out for the first time in 47 contests. Named team MVP in 1997, Tillman finished his ASU career with 230 career tackles. He has since been inducted into the Sun Bowl Hall of Fame after leading the Sun Devils to a 17-7 win over Iowa. Tillman was also named the 1997 Sporting News/Honda Scholar Athlete of the Year. Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the 1998 NFL Draft, Tillman spent four seasons in the NFL before enlisting in the U.S. Army. Tillman, a U.S. Army Ranger, served tours in Iraqi Freedom (2003) and Operation Enduring Freedom (2004) before he was tragically killed. Following his death, he was awarded a Purple Heart by the U.S. Army and a Silver Star by the U.S. Military. Tillman was posthumously honored with the NFF’s Distinguished American Award in 2006. The Pat Tillman Foundation was established in his name to promote scholarship, the sprit of community service and supporting veterans, active service members and their dependents.

Career Highlights

• 1997 Academic All-America
• 1997 All-Conference
• 1997 Conference MVP
• 1997 First Team All-America
• 1997 NCAA Post Graduate Scholar