Charles Tillman Grateful For Super Bowl Chance, Support From Chicago
Charles Tillman with Laurence Holmes
(CBS) Charles Tillman will be remembered as an all-time great Bears cornerback, but he's now working on adding his legacy with the Carolina Panthers.
On Super Bowl Sunday, Tillman will get another shot at championship glory and the chance to earn his first ring when the Panthers face the Broncos. Tillman won't play due to injury, but he was a key figure for Carolina and expressed his thrill for the position he and his team are in when he joined 670 The Score's Laurence Holmes on Monday night.
"It really hasn't sunk in yet," Tillman said. "But I'm definitely excited about this opportunity to get a ring. The one goal I've yet to accomplish is winning a Super Bowl. Done All-Pro, done Pro Bowls, done the NFC Championship -- the one thing, Super Bowl, is last to my agenda."
Tillman won't be playing in Super Bowl 50 after suffering a torn ACL in Week 17 of the season, his third game back since partially tearing the ACL.
Entering a run toward the playoffs, Tillman was willing to fight through the risk with the hopes of playing for a Super Bowl.
"I knew that I could possibly tear my ACL more when I was playing," Tillman said. "I knew it was partially torn. But I was giving it up for my teammates. I'm pretty sure they'd all do the same thing if the tables were turned. It's not about me, it's about the team. If that was my sacrifice, hey, so be it, I won a Super Bowl."
Tillman is in his first season with Carolina after spending 12 years in Chicago. He was part of the Bears' run to Super Bowl XLI, a game in which Peyton Manning and the Colts earned a 29-17 victory. Now, his Panthers play Manning and the Broncos in San Francisco.
The opportunity in Carolina came with former Bears player and defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, coach of the Panthers.
"It's a great reunion," Tillman said of playing for Rivera. "I'm glad that he wanted me to be a part of this. I thank him and our GM every day. I don't know why you wanted me, but I thank you so much for blessing me and letting me come on this team. I think it was hard leaving Chicago after 12 years, but God had a plan for me to come to a new team, new city, new teammates. Here I am. I'm definitely happy how things worked out."
Tillman's still active in the Chicago community, with his Cornerstone Foundation doing work throughout the city.
Now with the Panthers and one win away from the Super Bowl, Tillman's grateful for the support from Chicago.
"You guys have never stopped supporting me," Tillman closed to the fans in Chicago. "I love you guys and I really appreciate it."
