Mary Tillman, the mother of Pat Tillman, has expressed her disapproval of ESPN’s decision to award Prince Harry with the Pat Tillman Award at this year’s ESPYs. ESPN, however, defended their choice by stating that they have the support of the Tillman Foundation, which was founded by Tillman’s widow, Marie Tillman Shenton. ESPN highlighted Prince Harry’s work with The Invictus Games Foundation, an organization that promotes healing for military service members and veterans through sports, as the reason for honoring him. They emphasized that while not everyone may agree with their selection of honorees, the work of The Invictus Games Foundation is truly commendable.
Marie Tillman Shenton, who is the chair and co-founder of the Pat Tillman Foundation, was married to Pat Tillman at the time of his death in Afghanistan. It is important to note that Mary Tillman, Pat Tillman’s mother, is not involved in the Tillman Foundation and does not play a role in selecting the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award. The award is given to individuals with a strong connection to sports who have dedicated themselves to serving others in a manner that reflects the legacy of Pat Tillman, a former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger.
Last year, the Pat Tillman Award was presented to the training staff of the Buffalo Bills for their heroic efforts in saving the life of Damar Hamlin. Pat Tillman himself was a safety for the Arizona Cardinals who chose to leave the NFL and join the Army following the 9/11 attacks. Tragically, he lost his life in Afghanistan in 2004 at the young age of 27. His legacy lives on through the Pat Tillman Foundation and the award given in his honor each year at the ESPYs.