Just breaking at ESPN and ABC News:
Pat Tillman, a former NFL player who swapped a glamorous football career to enlist in the U.S. Army, has been killed in action in Afghanistan, ABCNEWS has learned.The 27-year-old former football player was killed in direct action during a firefight in Afghanistan, Pentagon sources told ABCNEWS. But there were no further details available.
A former member of the Arizona Cardinals, Tillman, along with his brother Kevin, enrolled with the U.S. Army Rangers after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
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.
Tillman, an unrestricted free agent, spurned a $9 million, five-year offer sheet from the St. Louis Rams in 2001 to join the Army. 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.
The Tillman family has been notified, according to a Pentagon source.
For those of you who might have forgotten about Tillman, here's an account of his decision to join the Army that ran back in 2000.
I just feel horribly sad. Tillman is survived by his wife, Marie, his parents, and two brothers. My condolences to his family.
POSTSCRIPT: This link will take you to Tillman's player profile at NFL.com. Here's a link to an NFL.com story about Tillman's decision to leave football behind for life in the Army. Here's the story about how Tillman and his brother, a minor league baseball player, were given ESPN's Arthur Ashe Courage Award at last year's ESPYs.
At the Arizona Republic, Dan Bickley mentioned Tillman in a column about Arizona State's athletic program just this morning.
Here's the first news that ran today in Tillman's hometown paper.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Some reaction to Tillman's death over at NFL.com. Here's a link to a piece Peggy Noonan wrote about Tillman two years ago (link via Drudge).
That’s terrible news. The guy was total class and truly an American hero.
Agreed. My sympathies to him and his family.
Rangers lead the way.
he has, in death unfortunately, defined Hero. he left a life of celebrity and wealth to go thru what he had to understand was nothing but a miserable situation. i know from experience the training is easy, the physicallity too, but continuous combat stretches the soul thin.
Very sad news. He was an inspiration.
It takes a very special person who could of been living a life of fame and fortune but decided to fight for his country instead, how many people would of done that? My sympathy goes out to his family.