Charles Tillman entered the NFL in 2003 as the 35th overall pick by a Chicago Bears team that was two seasons removed from a 13-3 record and one removed from a 4-12 campaign. The defense had Brian Urlacher, Mike Brown, and had just drafted Lance Briggs. They were set to return to the smash-mouth Bears of yesteryear, led by a dominant defense and a plowing running game. Now they just had to get past the surging Vikings, which had one of the best receivers in the league and one of the best receivers of all-time in Randy Moss.
Pundits thought the rookie known as “Peanut” would have his hands full with Moss, but he proved that he could be the Viking receiver’s foil and one of the best defensive backs in the league. This play in his rookie year is the perfect example of Peanut’s hard-nosed play and poise.
As the years went on, Tillman would go on to change the way a defensive player would make a play on the ball, as he was famous for punching footballs out of the offensive player’s arms. It became known as the “Peanut Punch,” and up until his final year with the Carolina Panthers, Tillman would use the technique with great success.
Now, Tillman is retired, and he felt there was no better way to announce his retirement than by Peanut Punch-ing everything in sight. It’s an appropriate way for the two-time Pro Bowler to end his career, and while plenty of dudes do fun stuff to announce their retirement, it’s hard to think of anyone who had a better exit from the league than Tillman.
