A life worth living of Pat Tillman

In the Line of Duty
U.S. Army Ranger and Ex-NFL Player Pat Tillman Killed in Afghanistan

April 23 — Pat Tillman, a former Arizona Cardinals safety, along with his brother Kevin, enrolled with the U.S. Army Rangers a year after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, has been killed in action in Afghanistan, ABCNEWS has learned.

Pat Tillman's best season was in 2000 when he started all 16 games and had 224 tackles. He made 153 tackles in his last season, the third-highest total in the league. In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, an unrestricted free agent Tillman turned down a three-year contract with the Cardinals, approximately 3.6 million, shocked his teammates and fans in May 2002, when he returned from his honeymoon and enlisted in the Army. That wasn't the first time Tillman had proven his loyalty -- in 2001 he turned down a five-year, $9 million contract offer from the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams, to stay with Arizona for another year. Tillman played collegially at Arizona State before being selected in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Tillman was an exceptional student with a 3.84 grade point average through college and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in marketing in three and a half year from ASU.

Tillman was a member of the 2nd battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, and the Army refers to them as an "elite combat unit." Candidates must pass a stringent orientation course, where they are challenged physically and mentally, before they can even be selected. About two-thirds of soldiers who enter the training program drop out. The Rangers are an infantry force trained to fight against any threat. Their creed: "Rangers lead the way!"

The 27-year-old former football player was killed in direct action during a firefight in eastern Afghanistan Thursday, Pentagon sources told ABCNEWS.

According to a Pentagon source, Tillman was killed in action when his unit's patrol was attacked by small arms fire and mortars during a coordinated ambush in eastern Afghanistan.

One enemy combatant was killed, and Tillman was the only U.S. soldier killed during the ambush, said Pentagon sources. His brother, Kevin, is in the same platoon.

Last year, the brothers were awarded an Arthur Ashe Courage Award meant for individuals whose contributions transcend sports. The award was accepted by their younger brother, Richard, while the brothers were away.

The Tillman family has been notified, according to a Pentagon source.

The Tillman brothers were accepted into the service's elite Rangers unit and went on to serve in the Middle East. They committed to three-year stints in the Army.

Despite major media interest in his story, Tillman remained very private about his decision to give up football for military service. He swore his family to silence, according to media reports, and never publicly commented about his choice.

While some media reports suggested that Tillman had lost friends in the attacks on the World Trade Center, family members denied the reports.

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