Charles Tillman officially retires from NFL… but the best is yet to come

In a style all his own, Charles “Peanut” Tillman retired from the NFL Monday.

I know this: Charles had an elite career, playing a dozen years for the Chicago Bears and establishing himself as the storied franchise’s greatest cornerback by consistently rising to the occasion against other-worldly receivers such as Calvin Johnson and Randy Moss and generating turnovers at a dizzying rate oftentimes his famed “Peanut Punch.”

Fittingly, Charles leaves a fist-print on the football field.

But I also know this: Charles will make an even greater impact now that his playing career is over.

For too many athletes, their on-field success – whether it ends in high school, college or however long in the pros – is the pinnacle of their life. Having gotten to know Charles, I can assure you that will not be a part of his narrative.

He has SO much to offer, and the public has seen glimpses of that, from his commitment to his family, his commitment to community, which was celebrated with his selection as the 2013 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, and his commitment to our youth, which I was honored to be a part of in writing The Middle School Rules of Charles “Peanut” Tillman.

But there’s more to come, and I believe Charles will follow the path of other standout athletes who somehow transcended their remarkable on-field feats with even more remarkable off-field endeavors.

For now, though, we can appreciate his creativity by watching his retirement announcement and how universally loved he was by scanning some of the social media notes and posts from a wide range of figures.

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/755184895878504448

https://twitter.com/TorreySmithWR/status/755220227923804160

https://twitter.com/thurmanthomas/status/755220294592233473

https://twitter.com/paytonsun/status/755173725335617536

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