Tillman dies in Afghanistan

Pat Tillman, the Arizona Cardinals safety who left a million dollar NFL career to become a U.S. Army Ranger, has been killed in Afghanistan.

A spokesman for the Rangers, an elite special operations unit, confirmed Tillman’s death but would provide no details. Tillman, who had also served in Iraq, was deployed with the 75th Regiment Ranger Battalion.

Among the Rangers’ tasks in Afghanistan has been the pursuit of al Qaeda members, including Osama bin Laden.

A source said Tillman had been involved in a counter-terrorism operation called Mountain Storm.

Tillman, 27, joined the Army in May 2002 with his younger brother, Kevin, a minor league prospect for the Cleveland Indians.

Neither sought attention when they joined, although they received plenty at the time from commentators inside and outside the world of sports, who regarded their decisions as extraordinary.

Tillman was quoted as telling friends he need to “pay something back.” Friends also said Tillman had been particularly affected by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Tillman, maintained a 3.84 grade point average at Arizona State University even while becoming the Pac-10 Conference Defensive Player of the year as a senior.

He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 1998 and played safety, setting a club record for tackles in 2000.

He had been playing under a three year, $3.6 million contract. The Army reportedly paid him about $19,000 plus benefits.

Washington Post staff writer Peter Slevin contributed to this story.

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