History of Pat Tillman in Timeline

Pat Tillman was an American NFL player for the Arizona Cardinals. Following the September 11 attacks, he left his professional football career to enlist in the U.S. Army Special Operations in 2002. Tillman served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. His story garnered significant media attention, particularly after his death was revealed to be a result of friendly fire. He is remembered for his patriotism and the sacrifice he made by leaving a lucrative sports career to serve his country.

Sections (6)

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

July 9, 1918: Act of Congress

On July 9, 1918, the Act of Congress was authorized.

July 25, 1963: Act of Congress Amended

On July 25, 1963, the Act of Congress was amended.

November 6, 1976: Pat Tillman's Birth

On November 6, 1976, Patrick Daniel Tillman Jr. was born.

1983: Tillman's Father Earns Juris Doctor

In 1983, Pat Tillman's father earned his Juris Doctor from Lincoln Law School of San Jose.

1994: College Career at ASU

In 1994, Pat Tillman started his college career as a linebacker for Arizona State University (ASU), securing the last remaining scholarship for the team.

1996: Clyde B. Smith Academic Award

In 1996, Pat Tillman earned the Clyde B. Smith Academic Award.

1997: All-American Honors

In 1997, Pat Tillman earned first-team All-American honors while playing college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

1997: Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year

In 1997, Pat Tillman was voted the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and named Arizona State's MVP.

1998: Sun Angel Student Athlete of Year

In 1998, Pat Tillman was named the Sun Angel Student Athlete of Year.

1998: Drafted by Arizona Cardinals

In the 1998 NFL draft, Pat Tillman was selected as the 226th pick by the Arizona Cardinals and received a $21,000 signing bonus.

2000: Named to NFL All-Pro Team

In 2000, Sports Illustrated football writer Paul Zimmerman named Pat Tillman to his NFL All-Pro team after Tillman recorded 155 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1 interception.

2001: Completion of the 2001 NFL Season

After completing the 15 remaining games of the 2001 NFL season which followed the September 11 attacks, Tillman turned down a contract offer of $3.6 million ($6 million in 2024) over three years from the Cardinals to enlist in the U.S. Army in May 2002.

May 2002: Tillman Enlists in the Army

In May 2002, Pat Tillman left his professional football career with the Arizona Cardinals and enlisted in the United States Army Special Operations following the September 11 attacks.

May 2002: Turns Down Contract to Enlist

In May 2002, Pat Tillman turned down a $3.6 million contract offer from the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the U.S. Army, following the September 11 attacks.

May 31, 2002: Enlistment with Kevin

On May 31, 2002, Pat Tillman and his brother Kevin enlisted in the U.S. Army.

September 2002: Completion of Basic Training

In September 2002, Pat Tillman and his brother Kevin completed basic training together.

September 2003: Entered Ranger School

In September 2003, after participating in the initial invasion of Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Pat Tillman entered Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

November 28, 2003: Graduation from Ranger School

On November 28, 2003, Pat Tillman graduated from Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

December 2003: Tillman Discusses Religion with Bob Ferguson

In December 2003, Tillman told Bob Ferguson, then-general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, "You know I'm not religious."

2003: Arthur Ashe Courage Award

In 2003, Pat Tillman received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award from ESPN as part of that year's ESPY Awards ceremony.

April 2004: Posthumous Silver Star

In April 2004, Corporal Patrick D. Tillman was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004.

April 22, 2004: Reported Killed in Action

On April 22, 2004, Pat Tillman was initially reported to have been killed by enemy combatants in Afghanistan.

April 22, 2004: Pat Tillman's Death

On April 22, 2004, Pat Tillman died in action during his service in Afghanistan.

April 28, 2004: Silver Star Citation Approved

On April 28, 2004, Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal approved the Silver Star citation for Pat Tillman.

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

On May 28, 2004, the Pentagon informed the Tillman family that Pat Tillman was killed by friendly fire, a month after his death.

September 19, 2004: NFL Wears Memorial Decal for Tillman

On September 19, 2004, all NFL teams wore a memorial decal on their helmets to honor Pat Tillman. The Arizona Cardinals continued to wear the decal for the remainder of the 2004 season. Jake Plummer's request to wear the decal was denied to maintain uniform appearance with the Denver Broncos. Plummer honored Tillman by growing a beard and his hair long.

2004: Second Investigation into Tillman's Death

In 2004, Kauzlarich conducted the second investigation into Tillman's death, lasting from May 8 to 15. Brigadier General Rodney Johnson found the statements "totally unacceptable".

2004: Tillman Incident in Afghanistan

In 2004, Kevin Tillman, Pat's brother, testified that the military tried to spin his brother's death to deflect attention from failings in the Afghan war.

2004: NFL Donation to USO in Tillman's Memory

In 2004, the NFL donated $250,000 to the United Service Organizations to build a USO center in memory of Pat Tillman.

April 1, 2005: Opening of Pat Tillman USO Center

On April 1, 2005, the Pat Tillman USO Center, the first USO center in Afghanistan, opened at Bagram Air Base.

April 15, 2005: Inaugural Pat's Run

On April 15, 2005, the inaugural Pat's Run took place in Tempe, with 5,000 participants running a 4.2-mile course to commemorate Tillman. A second race was held in San Jose.

May 4, 2005: Report on Tillman's Death

On May 4, 2005, The Washington Post reported on a report prepared by Brigadier General Gary M. Jones, revealing that Army investigators knew Tillman was killed by friendly fire soon after his death, but senior commanders approved awarding the Silver Star and Purple Heart.

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

On September 25, 2005, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Tillman held views critical of the Iraq War. Tillman planned to meet with Noam Chomsky after returning from Afghanistan.

March 4, 2006: Criminal Investigation Ordered

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

March 14, 2006: Release of "World Wide Suicide" by Pearl Jam

On March 14, 2006, Pearl Jam released the song "World Wide Suicide", which was written largely about Pat Tillman.

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October 19, 2006: Kevin Tillman Breaks Silence

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 12, 2006: Bronze Statue Revealed

On November 12, 2006, a bronze statue of Pat Tillman was revealed during a Cardinals game versus the Cowboys.

November 2006: Forensic Pathology Investigation

In November 2006, forensic pathologists concluded that Pat Tillman was most likely killed as a result of fire from an M249 light machine gun.

March 19, 2007: CID Report Summary

On March 19, 2007, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Report summary stated that Pat Tillman was killed by friendly fire.

March 26, 2007: Pentagon Report Released

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

April 24, 2007: O'Neal's Testimony

On April 24, 2007, Specialist Bryan O'Neal testified that his superiors warned him not to divulge information that a fellow soldier killed Pat Tillman.

July 13, 2007: Documents Withheld

On July 13, 2007, Henry Waxman and Tom Davis revealed that the Bush administration and the Pentagon had withheld key documents relating to Pat Tillman's death.

July 26, 2007: Report on Hardball

On July 26, 2007, Chris Matthews reported on Hardball that Pat Tillman's death may have been deliberate murder, based on a report from doctors who examined Tillman's body.

August 13, 2007: Veterans Request Release of Documents

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

September 2007: Memorial Dedication in New Almaden

In September 2007, a memorial was dedicated in New Almaden near the Almaden Quicksilver County Park during the annual New Almaden Day celebration, where Tillman grew up.

2007: Pentagon Releases Report Ruling Death Accidental

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

April 2008: Release of "Boots on the Ground by Dusk"

In April 2008, Mary Tillman, Pat Tillman's mother, released a book about her son titled, "Boots on the Ground by Dusk".

Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman

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July 14, 2008: House Committee Report Released

On July 14, 2008, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released a proposed report titled "Misleading Information from the Battlefield: The Tillman and Lynch Episodes."

September 2008: "Walk for Pat" Begins

In September 2008, Rory Fanning began his "Walk for Pat", walking across the United States to raise money and awareness for the Pat Tillman Foundation.

2009: Publication of "Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman"

In 2009, Jon Krakauer's book, "Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman", was published.

Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman

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January 23, 2010: Showing of "The Tillman Story" at Sundance Film Festival

On January 23, 2010, the documentary film "The Tillman Story" was shown at the Sundance Film Festival.

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August 2010: Release of "The Tillman Story"

In August 2010, the documentary film "The Tillman Story" was released.

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October 2010: Memorial Bridge Completion

In October 2010, the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, a highway bypass around the Hoover Dam, was completed and spans the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona.

2010: Induction into College Football Hall of Fame

In 2010, Pat Tillman was posthumously inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

2011: Opening of Pat Tillman Veteran's Center

In 2011, the Pat Tillman Veteran's Center opened on the Tempe campus, located in the lower level of the Memorial Union.

2013: Renovation of the Tillman Tunnel

In 2013, the Tillman Tunnel was renovated with new graphics and signage, featuring a television and sound system displaying Tillman's career highlights.

October 29, 2015: ASU Sun Devils Wear Special Uniforms

On October 29, 2015, the Arizona State University Sun Devils football team wore special uniforms made by Adidas to honor Pat Tillman, with all proceeds going to the Pat Tillman Foundation.