The NFL recently kicked off its 100th season, and that got us to wondering about some of today’s military veterans who’ve also served on the gridiron.
PAT TILLMAN: There’s no way that Pat Tillman doesn’t head up this list. He gave up his career as a safety with the Arizona Cardinals in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks to become an Army Ranger and served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
On April 22, 2004, Tillman was killed in Afghanistan. Initially, the Army said his death was the result of enemy fire. But, a month after he died, the Defense Department notified Tillman’s family that he’d been killed in a friendly fire incident. Following his death, he was promoted from specialist to corporal and posthumously received both the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
Tillman was the first NFL player to die in combat since Bob Kalsu, who was killed in Vietnam
JOE CARDONA: You probably know who Joe Cardona is -- the long snapper for the New England Patriots in their 2017 Super Bowl win over the Atlanta Falcons and earlier this year when the Pats defeated the Los Angeles Rams in the championship game.
Cardona is also a 2015 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he suited up as a long snapper for the Midshipmen. He is a lieutenant in the Naval Reserve.
ALEJANDRO VILLANUEVA: Pittsburgh Steeler Alejandro Villanueva played college ball for the United States Military Academy. After he graduated in 2010, he served three tours in Afghanistan, where he received a Bronze Star for valor.
After leaving the Army, he initially signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014 but was waived by the club. He went on to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is their starting left tackle.
CHAD HENNINGS: Chad Hennings is one of the best defensive linemen to come out of the U.S. Air Force Academy. The Outland Trophy winner was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1988 but opted to stick with the Air Force instead. He served as a pilot for four years, deploying twice to the Persian Gulf, where he flew 45 combat missions.
He returned to the Cowboys in 1992, where he played for nine years and appeared in three Super Bowls.
BRYCE FISHER: Bryce Fisher graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1999 and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills. Like Hennings, Fisher didn’t hit the gridiron immediately. He served two years on active duty and another nine in the reserve before suiting up for the Bills in 2001. He also played for the St. Louis Rams and on the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl championship team in 2005. He finished his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans
No matter where he played ball, though, Fisher continued to serve with the Air National Guard.
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Reach Julia LeDoux: Julia@connectingvets.com
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