ARIZONA CARDINALS

Jake Plummer reflects on Pat Tillman

Nov 17, 2011, 2:21 AM | Updated: 3:37 am

Former Sun Devil and Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer spent a lot of time playing football with the late Pat Tillman, but it is the memories and lessons off the field that make Plummer think back to his close friend.

Plummer shared his thoughts on Tillman with Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf.

“I think about him and I think of, obviously, all the great times we had. But I think now, ‘What would he be doing? What would Pat be up to?’ and you just wonder.”

Plummer continued.

“It can almost inspire you to think about trying something new, trying something different and I think about Pat a lot, along with a lot of people.”

Plummer and Tillman were teammates at ASU from 1994-97 and then were reunited as Cardinals from 1998-2001.

“More people today think of him as a war hero but I just think of him as a great friend and a guy that can teach you, number one, something real simple: how to just be a better friend, and Pat had a lot of great qualities and he is worth remembering.”

Jake Plummer retired from the NFL in 2006, two years after Tillman’s death in Afghanistan while he was deployed as an Army Ranger.

“People have said that they think Pat’s death influenced my decision,” Plummer said. “I was ready to retire the year before, if we [Denver Broncos] had won the Super Bowl I was ready to drift off and do what I did after my tenth season.”

Plummer left Doug and Wolf with some advice he said was “in Pat Tillman form.”

“You know you might find a Pat Tillman bagging your groceries some day if you just take the time to pry into their brain, ask them a question or two. That was Pat, man. He just never let anything sit idly by.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

19 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

22 hours ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Jake Plummer reflects on Pat Tillman