1.“He is a hero,” said Michael Bidwill, vice president of the Cardinals. “He was a brave man. There are very few people who have the courage to do what he did, the courage to walk away from a professional sports career and make the ultimate sacrifice.”

Lewis,George & Miklaszewski, Jim & Johnson, Alex "Ex-NFL star Tillman makes 'ultimate sacrifice' " 26 April 2004

2.He proudly walked away from a career in football to a greater calling.

3. He knew his purpose in life(like malala when she wanted girls to have education)

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4815441/ns/world_news/t/ex-nfl-star-tillman-makes-ultimate-sacrifice/#.U4YP5Nq9KSM