Major Controversies Surrounding Pat Tillman: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Pat Tillman—discover key moments of controversy.

Pat Tillman was a professional football player for the Arizona Cardinals who left the NFL to enlist in the U.S. Army after the September 11th attacks. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the Army Special Operations. Tillman's story gained widespread attention after his death, particularly when it was revealed that he was killed by friendly fire. He is remembered for his patriotism and sacrifice, leaving behind a promising sports career to serve his country.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

April 22, 2004: Death in Afghanistan

On April 22, 2004, Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan. Initially, the Army reported that he was killed by enemy combatants, but investigations later revealed friendly fire as the cause.

April 22, 2004: Pat Tillman's Death

On April 22, 2004, Pat Tillman died in Afghanistan. Initial reports indicated he was killed by enemy combatants, but later investigations revealed he was killed by friendly fire.

April 28, 2004: Approval of Silver Star Citation

On April 28, 2004, Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal approved the Silver Star citation for Pat Tillman, which detailed his death as "in the line of devastating enemy fire."

May 28, 2004: Pentagon Notifies Tillman Family of Friendly Fire

On May 28, 2004, a month after Pat Tillman's death, the Pentagon informed the Tillman family that he was killed by friendly fire, leading to allegations of delayed disclosure to protect the U.S. military's image.

2004: Investigation into Tillman's Death

In 2004, Kauzlarich conducted the second investigation into Tillman's death which lasted a week, from May 8 to 15. Brigadier General Rodney Johnson testified before Congress that he found these statements "totally unacceptable".

2004: Incident in Afghanistan

In 2004, Kevin Tillman, Pat Tillman's brother, was in the convoy but did not witness the incident; he later testified that the military tried to spin Pat's death.

May 4, 2005: Report on Tillman's Death

On May 4, 2005, a report described in The Washington Post, prepared by Brigadier General Gary M. Jones, revealed that Army investigators knew Pat Tillman was killed by friendly fire shortly after his death, but senior commanders approved the awarding of the Silver Star and a posthumous promotion.

September 25, 2005: Tillman's Views on the Iraq War Reported

The September 25, 2005, edition of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Tillman held views critical of the Iraq War and was planning to meet with Noam Chomsky after returning from Afghanistan.

March 4, 2006: Criminal Investigation Opened

On March 4, 2006, the U.S. Defense Department Inspector General directed the Army to open a criminal investigation into Pat Tillman's death to determine if it was the result of negligent homicide.

October 19, 2006: Kevin Tillman Breaks Silence About Brother's Death

On October 19, 2006, Kevin Tillman broke his silence about his brother's death, lashing out at the Iraq War in an essay published on Truthdig.

November 2006: Forensic Pathology Report

In November 2006, a forensic pathology report concluded that Pat Tillman was likely killed by fire from an M249 light machine gun.

March 19, 2007: CID Report Summary on Tillman's Death

On March 19, 2007, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) released a report summary concluding that Pat Tillman and an Afghan militia soldier were killed by friendly fire due to confusion during combat.

March 26, 2007: Pentagon Releases Report

On March 26, 2007, the Pentagon released their report on the events surrounding Pat Tillman's death and the subsequent coverup.

April 24, 2007: Testimony Before House Committee

On April 24, 2007, Specialist Bryan O'Neal testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that his superiors warned him not to reveal information that a fellow soldier killed Pat Tillman.

July 13, 2007: Withholding of Key Documents

On July 13, 2007, Henry Waxman and Tom Davis revealed that the Bush administration and the Pentagon withheld key documents relating to Pat Tillman's death and denied document release requests from Congress.

July 26, 2007: Report on Hardball

On July 26, 2007, Chris Matthews reported on Hardball that Pat Tillman's death may have been a deliberate murder by fellow soldiers.

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August 13, 2007: Request for Document Release

On August 13, 2007, 20 U.S. military veterans from VoteVets asked NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to help secure the release of all documents related to Pat Tillman's death.

2007: Pentagon Report on Tillman's Death

In 2007, the Pentagon released a report ruling Pat Tillman's death as accidental.

July 14, 2008: House Committee Report Released

On July 14, 2008, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released a proposed report, "Misleading Information from the Battlefield: The Tillman and Lynch Episodes," stating its investigation was frustrated by a "near universal lack of recall" among senior officials.