What we know
What we know: Pat Tillman still inspiring millions 22 years after his death in Afghanistan
Compiled Nov 6
What we know
- Pat Tillman died in Afghanistan by friendly fire while serving as an Army Ranger, 22 years before this article was written.
- Tillman left a lucrative NFL contract and his new bride to join the military after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
- The Pat Tillman Foundation, co-founded by his widow Marie, created the Tillman Scholars program in 2008 to bridge gaps in the GI Bill.
- Pat's Run, a 4.2-mile run/walk named for his ASU jersey number 42, now draws 30,000 people annually plus 30-plus satellite runs.
- Statues of Tillman stand at Arizona State's Mountain America Stadium and near State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals.
- Tillman's birthday fell on a Friday, marking what would have been his 50th birthday.
What we don’t know yet
- Katherine Steele said the foundation never tries to speak for what Tillman would have done, since they don't know.
- The article says it's impossible, perhaps even unfair, to project what Tillman's life would have been like had he not died.
Open questions
- What specific problems or causes might Tillman have pursued had he lived?
- How has the Tillman Scholars program specifically changed participants' careers or communities?
- What is the current scale or reach of the Pat Tillman Foundation today?
- How do the satellite Pat's Run events around the country compare to the main Tempe event?
Drawn from the Associated Press report. “What we don’t know” lists only what the reporting itself flags as unresolved.