Charles Tillman

Some Lesser Known Facts About Charles Tillman

• Charles Anthony Tillman was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Army parents Charles and Peggy Tillman. He spent most of his childhood in different U.S. states and overseas due to his father’s military postings.

• Tillman attended Copperas Cove High School in Texas, playing football and basketball before graduating in 1999.

• He joined the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, playing cornerback for the Ragin’ Cajuns football team from 1999 to 2002.

• In 2003, he was drafted 35th overall by the Chicago Bears and recorded 86 tackles and 4 interceptions in his rookie season. In 2005, Tillman started all 16 games, making 93 tackles, 5 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles and scored a defensive touchdown.

  

• Tillman married Jackie Tillman, and the couple has four children together. His family founded the Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation in 2005 to support children with chronic illnesses.

  

• In 2006, he helped the Bears reach Super Bowl XLI, where they lost to the Indianapolis Colts. Tillman signed a six-year, $64 million contract extension with the Bears in 2007, securing his long-term future with the team.

• In 2008, Tillman’s daughter Tiana underwent a heart transplant, inspiring him to expand the foundation’s hospital outreach programs.

• In 2011, he earned his first Pro Bowl selection after recording 100 tackles and 4 forced fumbles. In 2012, Tillman forced 10 fumbles, earned First-Team All-Pro honours, and became known for the “Peanut Punch” technique.

• In 2013, he played only 8 games due to a triceps injury, but won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Tillman signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2015, played 12 games, and tore his ACL before Super Bowl 50.

• He officially retired from the NFL on 18 July 2016, after a 13-season professional career. Tillman earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette during his playing career.

• In 2018, he completed training and became an FBI agent, reportedly working in cybercrime and counterintelligence.

• He has worked as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports and contributed to community and charity events after retirement.

• Tillman was inducted into the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Bears’ Ring of Excellence in 2022.