Charles Tillman Just Achieved an NFL First and It's Totally Awesome

Charles Tillman is the best cornerback in Chicago Bears history. That much is not up for debate. There isn't another player at that position who has done more with this franchise than he did. For a solid decade, he was a turnover machine. He collected 36 interceptions and forced an absurd 42 fumbles. He made two Pro Bowls in the process. Many think he's done enough to earn eventual Hall of Fame consideration. While that is unlikely for a number of reasons, Tillman himself isn't dwelling on it. He's too busy exploring the landscape for his next career. It looked like he might get into acting after a cameo in the latest Sharknado movie. However, that soon shifted to something far more serious and ambitious. He wanted to become the first former NFL player in history to earn an FBI badge. He was certainly cutting it close given his age was already approaching the limit for the organizations' acceptance of new recruits. Last word was he's training down in Quantico, Virginia. It seems the results are in, and his mission is complete.

Charles Tillman is first notable former football player to become FBI agent

According to Bobby Clay of the Sporting News, sources close to the FBI indicated that Tillman successfully made it through training. He will be integrated as a full-fledged agent, mere days before the deadline no less. Tillman turns 38 today.

"A spokesman for the bureau told Sporting News that it does not comment on personnel matters, and Tillman's family couldn't be reached, but a source close to the situation said on the eve of Tillman's 37th birthday, "He is currently working for the FBI. (He) has his badge and everything." A source told SN in 2017 not to expect a grand announcement from the FBI if Tillman succeeded. "They will try to get him to fade to anonymity as much as they can," said retired U.S. Marshal Kim Widup, a 38-year law enforcement veteran who led the Whitewater investigation. "But I think at some point the FBI will also use it as part of their recruiting policy, as in, 'Look who we got.'”

It's impossible not to be impressed by Tillman at this point. He seems to be good at everything. He becomes the best corner in Bears history, invents a special method of forcing fumbles that teams still copy today, retires and then joins one of the most notable law enforcement agencies in the world. It's hard not to feel a little bit envious of his success, while at the same time so proud he continues represents Chicago like this.