Mary Tillman is unhappy with ESPN for awarding the Pat Tillman Award to Prince Harry

Mary Tillman wanted someone who have worked tirelessly without any big fame or connections to get the Pat Tillman award.

Mary Tillman is unhappy with ESPN for awarding the Pat Tillman Award to Prince Harry

Mary Tillman expressed disappointment after Prince Harry was awarded the Pat Tillman award at ESPYs (Image via IMAGO)

Mary Tillman was disappointed after it was announced that Prince Harry would be the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award. Mary believes that there are more deserving candidates for the award.

Every year at ESPYs, the organizers give the Pat Tillman Award to those individuals with a strong connection to sports who have contributed in other fields as well. This year they decided to award the trophy to Prince Harry for his experience in the British military and teaming up with Invictus Gaming, providing help to wounded soldiers.

However, Mary Tillman, the mother of Pat Tillman, wasn’t happy with the decision. According to her, there were others with zero to no connection have done immaculate work.

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I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award. There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans. These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections, or privilege that Prince Harry has.
Mary Tillman said in an interview with the Daily Mail

She wanted recognition for those individuals. In 2023, it was the medical staff that saved Damar Hamlin who won this award.

Who was Pat Tillman?

Tillman was the star safety for the Arizona State Sun Devils during the middle of the ‘90s. The Arizona Cardinals picked him in the 7th round of the 1998 NFL Draft and went on to spend four seasons with the franchise.

Mary Tillman is unhappy with ESPN for awarding the Pat Tillman Award to Prince Harry
Pat Tillman (Image via IMAGO)

In 2001, Tillman was due a three-year $3.6 million extension, however, the events of the 9/11 terrorist attacks changed his life. He decided to quit playing football and enlisted in the military, serving in Afghanistan, where he died in April 2004 at the age of 27.

How did Mary Tillman find out about her son’s death?

While speaking with ESPN about her son’s 17th death anniversary in April, Mary Tillman remembered vividly about the fateful day.

She saw a message from her youngest son Richard on her phone and tried to reply back, but to no avail. Then she tried calling a relative of Pat’s wife Marie, who answered. He then urged her to call Marie because something bad had happened.

Mary Tillman called her daughter-in-law, who picked up the phone but was having difficulty speaking.

I said, ‘Marie, what's wrong?’ And she just said, ‘He's dead.’ And I said, ‘Who's dead?’ And she said, ‘Pat's dead.’ That's how I found out. Yeah.
Mary Tillman revealed

The report from the armed forces documented that Tillman died after militants opened fire at the base where his squad was stationed. However, conspiracy theorists and even Aaron Rodgers believe that there was foul play involved and the military did not reveal the actual reason.

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