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(NewsNation) — Mary Tillman, the mother of the late NFL player and military veteran Pat Tillman, has come out in opposition to Prince Harry receiving the ESPN Pat Tillman Award for Service.
Pat Tillman was a safety for the Arizona Cardinals between 1998 and 2001. After witnessing 9/11, Tillman decided to enlist in the Army, turning down a $3.6 million contract offer in the process.
Tillman served in Iraq and Afghanistan before dying in the field by friendly fire on April 22, 2004, at the age of 27.
ESPN released a statement last week announcing that the Duke of Sussex was the 2024 recipient for his dedication to and creation of the Invictus Games, an annual international sports competition for injured and sick veterans.
What did Pat Tillman’s mother say?
Speaking to Dailymail.com in an article published Saturday, Mary Tillman said there were more fitting candidates for the annual award decided upon by ESPN and the Pat Tillman Foundation.
“‘I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” Mary Tillman told the British outlet.
“There are recipients that are far more fitting. There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.
“These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has. I feel that those types of individuals should be recognized,” she said.
Mary Tillman was disappointed she was not consulted in the decision-making process, but sources tell NewsNation she is not involved in the foundation nor been involved in deciding who receives the award.
What was ESPN’s response to criticism?
The award is given out annually to a “person with a strong connection to sports, who has served others in a way that echoes the legacy of the former NFL player.”
ESPN issued a statement to NewsNation, saying, “We understand not everyone will agree with all honorees selected for any award. The Invictus Games Foundation does incredible work and ESPN believes this is a cause worth celebrating.”
Who has won the award previously?
Most recently, the Buffalo Bills training staff won the award for their efforts in saving safety Damar Hamlin’s life after he underwent a cardiac arrest while on the field vs. the Cincinnati Bengals in January of 2023.
Purple Heart recipients, war veterans and Paralympic athletes are among those who have also received the honor.
What have others said?
Jake Wood, a U.S. Marine who was the 2018 recipient, told TMZ that Harry’s work with the Invictus Games and 10 years of British military service are sufficient reasons for the award.
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro Jr., the 2017 winner, also told the outlet that Harry’s work made him a deserving recipient.
Former NFL player Pat McAfee — whose eponymous daily show is licensed across ESPN — disagreed with the Duke of Sussex being awarded the honor.
“When you do something like this, you know the immediate reaction from humans and sports fans and like people with common sense and brains is going to be, like, ‘Hey, don’t be putting our f***ing guy with that guy,'” he said on Friday’s show.
A petition urging ESPN to appoint a different winner has gained over 45,000 signatures as of Tuesday evening.