It’s Charles Tillman Appreciation Day!

Before Charles Tillman became a legendary Chicago Bears player, he was doing great things as a member of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns football program where he was a four year starter from 1999 to 2002.

On Saturday, June 26th, Tillman was officially inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020. “It’s such an honor to be part of a Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame with so many great athletes,” Tillman said via KTBS.com of his 11-person class that also includes the Harlem Globetrotters Louis “Sweet Lou” Dunbar, bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman, and the NBA’s Kerry Kittles.

In college he started to perfect his signature move, the Peanut Punch, but he also had 12 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries, 284 tackles, and he blocked three punts. Tillman is just the eighth Ragin’ Cajun to ever have his jersey retired (#5).

After his stellar collegiate career the Bears made him a second round draft pick in 2003, and he went on to become arguably the greatest cornerback to ever play in the Windy City.

Our 30-Day Challenge may be winding down here at Windy City Gridiron, but Jeff Berckes is taking his June 28 entry to our series to the extreme with a series of articles to honor his all-time favorite Bears defensive back, Charles “Peanut” Tillman. That article drops tomorrow morning, but it’ll be one of several he has penned talking about Peanut.

This story stream will populate all through the day on Monday, June 28, so keep checking back so you don’t miss anything from Jeff.

In the meantime check out these articles from WCG that we’ve produced through the years.

• Report: Charles Tillman officially an FBI agent
• Charles Tillman: “Don’t give up. We’re always in the fight.”
• Charles Tillman’s Hall of Fame problem
• Charles Tillman talks fatherhood, legacy, and more: “My family, that’s my real strength.”
• Ten Thoughts On The NFL: Charles “Peanut” Tillman Edition
• And here’s Peanut’s retirement video from 2016.