Twenty-Five Greatest Players in Cardinals History

Before he was an American hero, Pat Tillman was a budding star.

Tillman is remembered, and rightly so, for his contributions, not on the field, but to his country as a soldier in the United States Army, where he paid the ultimate sacrifice on April 22, 2004. However, as a player, he was certainly no slouch.

Drafted out of Arizona State, where he played as an undersized linebacker, he earned a spot in the starting lineup quickly, after moving to the safety position. His toughness was lauded, and he continued to get lots of playing time. His best season came in 2000, when he recorded well over 100 tackles, had one and a half sacks, forced two fumbles, and added an interception. He played one more season after that, then turned down a contract extension in order to join the military.

His career was short, and his numbers aren’t huge, but he had an impact on the field in his brief time in Arizona. Tillman will always be remembered as a hero off the field, but he was a terrific player who might have had a brilliant career in football if he had gone that route.