ESPN.com – NFL – Ex-NFL player Tillman killed in Afghanistan
Former NFL defensive back Pat Tillman was killed in action while serving as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan, ABCNEWS reported Friday.
He was 27.
Tillman played four seasons for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals as a safety after starring at Arizona State University.
In May of 2002, Pat announced his intentions to join the Army, turning down a $3.6 million contract offer in the process.
Both he and his brother Kevin, a former minor league baseball prospect in the Cleveland Indians organization, committed to three-year military terms, landing spots with the elite U.S. Army Rangers. The two served in the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pat and Kevin were recipients of the 11th annual Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2003 ESPYs.