Meet Panthers cornerback Charles Tillman, subject of inspiring new book aimed at middle schoolers
Charles “Peanut” Tillman, a Carolina Panthers cornerback and 13-year NFL veteran, will appear at the Morrison Regional branch of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (7015 Morrison Blvd, Charlotte) on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, from 6 to 8 p.m. for a free event open to all ages.
Tillman is the subject of the book The Middle School Rules of Charles “Peanut” Tillman, published in November 2015, which features the defining childhood stories of a young, well-traveled boy nicknamed Peanut, who had to deal with racism, adapt to constant relocation, and endure his parents’ divorce. Inspired by faith and family, Tillman persevered and carved out an indelible mark both on and off the football field.
Tillman will read from the book and will sign books and memorabilia afterward. Books will be available for sale at the event. Attendees will be limited to one non-book item for signature.
Advance registration is required. To register, go to www.cmlibrary.org/calendar or call 704-416-5400. (Register online.)
About Charles Tillman:
Over a dozen seasons, Charles Tillman established himself as the greatest cornerback in the storied history of the Chicago Bears. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Tillman has been distinguished as one of the NFL’s most opportunistic defensive backs, intercepting 36 passes and forcing 42 fumbles—the most in the league since his rookie year in 2003. In fact, he popularized the “Peanut Punch,” a nod to his childhood nickname and a tribute to his knack for jarring a football from the grasp of an offensive player.
But even more than his acclaim on the field, Tillman is highly regarded off the field. With his father serving in the United States Army, Tillman attended 11 different schools domestically and internationally. Lightly recruited out of Copperas Cove High School in Texas, Tillman was offered a single Division 1-A scholarship, but he shined at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and was selected by the Bears in the second round of the NFL Draft.
In 2005, Tillman and his wife Jackie established the Cornerstone Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and opportunities to children in need. Tillman was a 2012 finalist for the NFL Players Association’s Byron White Man of the Year award, and he was the 2013 winner of the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award, which “recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence.”
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