Hard to believe it’s been seven years since Pat Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan. If you haven’t seen The Tillman Story documentary I highly recommend you check it out, or read Jon Krakauer’s definitive Where Men Win Glory. It’s a tragic story, but Tillman was an unbelievable individual who we could all learn something from.

One thing not often mentioned is Tillman’s connection to the Patriots and BB. From Peter King:

In the last conversation [Pat] Tillman had with Bauer, he told his agent, “You won’t believe the letter I got from Bill Belichick.” In the letter, Belichick praised him for his courage, his leadership, his willingness to set an example for people in this materialistic society, and he said it was an honor to be in the same league he’d been in. “In the letter,” Bauer told me, “Belichick said, ‘If you ever need a job when you get out of the Army, give me a call.’ ” So what would have happened if Tillman hadn’t been killed? He’d have been 28 at the time of his scheduled discharge… I don’t know what team would have signed him. But the Patriots, even with Rodney Harrison, then 32, ensconced at strong safety, were not deep on the back end, with only one other solid NFL player, Eugene Wilson (let go two years later). After the Belichick letter, I bet Tillman would have walked to Foxboro and taken any role Belichick would have offered.

It was a tragic end to a special life. We can only imagine what Tillman might’ve gone on to do in this world. He was an inquisitive and open-minded individual who didn’t fit the picture that the military painted of him after his death. I am glad that the truth is now out there.

Pat Tillman will never be forgotten.