GLENDALE, Ariz. — Before he left home, Rodney Selsor grabbed the framed red No. 40 jersey that he’s kept displayed on the wall of his living room, not far from the television. A lifelong Arizona Cardinals fan, Selsor had never worn the jersey to a game. With Veterans Day approaching, Sunday was different.
Before Arizona’s 31-6 win over the New York Jets, Selsor walked with 8-year-old daughter Selena into Pat Tillman Freedom Plaza outside of State Farm Stadium. It was a postcard day in the desert, 75 degrees, blue skies. A recorded voice instructed fans how to enter the stadium. A couple Jets fans chanted “Aa-ron Rod-gers!” around the corner.
Wearing the Tillman jersey, Selsor stationed Selena near a sculpture of Tillman, which had 112 red roses (four rows of 28) displayed on a wall behind it, and took her photo. His reasoning: “Because I want to teach her about the history of this man and what he did for this country,” said Selsor, who considers Tillman an American hero.
NFL game days are unique. On the field, the competition and violence are unmatched. Off it, fans rep jerseys from yesteryear, the past meeting the present, a fashion statement of respect. At Solider Field in Chicago, the 34 of Walter Payton and 54 of Brian Urlacher rule. At Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the 18 of Peyton Manning dominates. In Kansas City, the 58 of Derrick Thomas is popular. In Washington, it’s Sean Taylor and jersey 21.
Here, Larry Fitzgerald’s 11 has a strong presence, but it’s Tillman’s 40 that grabs attention. For many, the jersey represents something beyond football. It’s a spirit. A symbol of something greater.
Forever in our hearts.
Today, red roses were added to Pat Tillman’s statue at State Farm Stadium to honor him. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/oyyYZSbrYe
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 10, 2024
Tillman’s story is well known. How he walked away from pro football to join the U.S. Army in the wake of the 2001 terror attacks. How he died from friendly fire. How military officials hid the truth from his family. Last week, ESPN aired an E60 special that featured new reporting and details from Tillman’s story. Twenty years after his death, the former strong safety’s sacrifice continues to move people. Nowhere more than Arizona.
Joe and Lucy Gutierrez sat in Section 118 at State Farm Stadium on Sunday. He wore a “Salute to Service” Tillman jersey, while Lucy wore a red Tillman jersey. Joe had grown up a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. By the time they moved here from Albuquerque in 2008, “we had already lost him,” he said, referring to Tillman. The couple caught up quickly.
A seventh-round draft pick out of Arizona State, Tillman played for the Cardinals from 1998 to 2001. As a rookie, he started 10 games and participated on special teams. In 2000, Tillman posted 155 tackles and forced two fumbles, but the Cardinals finished 3-13. The St. Louis Rams that offseason offered Tillman a five-year contract worth $9 million, but Tillman felt loyal to coach Dave McGinnis. He signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals worth a reported $512,000.
Tillman wasn’t the Cardinals’ best player, but he was among the most popular. Before the 2001 season, quarterback Jake Plummer — who also played with Tillman at Arizona State — told reporters that he wasn’t the biggest name on the team anymore. Tillman was.
Tillman missed four games his final season because of an ankle injury. He played through pain, but the Cardinals were better. Entering the regular season’s final week, they had a chance to post their first non-losing record in three seasons. On a cold and wet day at FedEx Field, the Cardinals jumped to a 17-6 lead over Washington, but they couldn’t hold on, losing 20-17.
On the game’s final play, Tillman, who had nine tackles, approached the line of scrimmage, his breath visible through his facemask. As Washington quarterback Kent Graham took a knee, ending the game, Tillman raised his arms and walked off a football field for the final time. “Losing stinks in general, but losing like this is brutal,” he told reporters after the game.
Six months later, Tillman informed the Cardinals that he was joining the U.S. Army, along with younger brother Kevin. The initial plan was for Tillman to take a three-year leave of absence.
On Sunday, Rich and Kelly Palmer walked into the Tillman plaza. Having attended games at every MLB stadium, the Vermont couple had started visiting NFL and NHL venues. Rich wore a throwback Joe Namath jersey, Kelly wore a green Jets T-shirt. That morning, son Matt had texted them and told them to make sure to check out the Tillman statue outside State Farm Stadium.
“We’ve been football fans our whole life,” Kelly said. “To think he gave up his career, fought for our country, lost his life for our country, that speaks volumes about him as a person. And he was like that on the field as well as off the field.”
Angelo Saenz takes a photo of son Alex by the Pat Tillman statue outside State Farm Stadium. (Doug Haller / The Athletic)
More people arrived. After admiring the statue, one woman approached and gave Tillman a fist bump. Angelo Saenz, wearing a white Tillman jersey he had purchased eight months ago, took a photo of his son Alex. Even Gene Lower, the photographer who had taken the photo that inspired the Tillman sculpture, helmet off, hair flying, posed for a photo.
Rich Cralley said he looks forward to this game all season. Veterans Day weekend. The roses behind Tillman. A Cardinals season-ticket holder for 25 years, Cralley recalled meeting Tillman during training camp in Flagstaff one year, and how Tillman had stayed after practice to sign autographs, treating everyone as a friend.
Wearing a black Tillman jersey, Cralley wondered if fans across the country realize how much Tillman means to Arizona and to the country. What he stood for. How he carried himself. Standing in the plaza, Cralley sent photos of the statue to friends and a nephew in Minnesota.
“I don’t want him to be forgotten,” he said. “He’s special, and I hope he always will be.”
(Top photo of the Pat Tillman statue outside State Farm Stadium: Gene Lower / AP)
