Arizona State, 1998
• 1996 Academic All-America® Second Team
• 1997 Academic All-America® First Team
Pat Tillman was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Hall of Fame in 2013.
A standout football player in high school in his native San Jose, Calif., Pat Tillman received a scholarship from Arizona State University to play for the Sun Devils who he helped lead to the Rose Bowl after an undefeated season in 1997. A three-time Pac-10 all-league selection, Tillman earned Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Award during his senior campaign that also saw him garner First Team GTE Academic All-America® accolades.
Tillman graduated summa cum laude with a degree in marketing in just three-and-a-half years from Arizona State. He also earned a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and was a Pac-10 All-Academic selection. He was a seventh round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in the 1998 NFL entry draft and quickly became the team’s starting safety, breaking the franchise record for tackles (144) in his third season in the league in 2000.
In the aftermath of the attacks on September 11, 2001, Tillman proudly put his NFL career on hold to serve his country. This decision was just one of many he made over the course of his lifetime to help others and serve a cause greater than self-interest.
While the story of Pat’s death may have been one of the most publicized in the war on terror, sadly, it is merely one of the thousands of tragic stories that deserve recognition. Pat’s family and friends created the Pat Tillman Foundation in 2004, a community of scholars dedicated to improving their own lives, the lives of their families and their country by creating a spirit of service.
Born: San Jose, Calif.
High School: Leland High School
Occupation: NFL Football Player and U.S. Army Specialist