Windy City Gridiron - It’s Charles Tillman Appreciation Day!A Chicago Bears communityhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49985/windy-fav.png2021-06-28T18:00:00-05:00http://www.windycitygridiron.com/rss/stream/223170602021-06-28T18:00:00-05:002021-06-28T18:00:00-05:00Pieces of Peanut Part 5: The Hall of Fame Case
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<p>We wrap up the tribute to Charles Tillman by laying out his Hall of Fame case.</p> <p id="VSizuZ">The road to the Hall of Fame for Charles Tillman will be long and ultimately may end in disappointment. That isn’t because he wasn’t good enough or didn’t prove it on the field. It’s because Hall of Fame voters are largely the same group that votes for the end-of-season honors like <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a>s and All-Pros and members of the media overlooked Tillman for much too long. His signature game that led to the signature move getting an iconic name all happened during his signature season near the end of his career. He established himself as one of the best in the minds of the voters when it was too late to rack up the honors. </p>
<p id="5FfP0A">Maybe if Charles Tillman was a 1st round pick and came from a power conference school, his pedigree would have focused members of the media on him sooner in his career. Like in 2005 when he intercepted 5 passes, took one to the house, and added 4 forced fumbles to his ledger. Or maybe in 2006 when he was an integral piece of an <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfc-championship-game">NFC Championship</a> defense, posting another 5 picks and a defensive score. A Pro Bowl nod in either of those seasons triggers more Pro Bowls as he consistently put up excellent takeaway statistics while showing up in the run game with authority. Simply put, the writers made a mistake by not showering Tillman with more love and appreciation early in his career. As a result, the same people that left him off those lists will largely be responsible for determining if he gets a bronze bust in Canton. Many would need to admit their mistakes and we as humans aren’t always great at that. </p>
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<cite>Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Tillman’s teammate Brian Urlacher’s Hall of Fame bust</figcaption>
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<p id="I1FPek">A hyper-focus of the media on man-to-man cornerback play in Tillman’s early career seems at least partially to blame. The obsession with one style of play over another simply ignores large swaths of the football ecosystem. The post-season honors conversation is still full of major issues, but with voters exposed to more in-depth analysis, it’s somewhat better now than it was during Tillman’s career. Maybe the modern Twitterverse would have celebrated Tillman’s achievements better, giving him credit for executing his responsibilities in the defense at an extremely high level while adding a new, unique element to the position. </p>
<p id="XJUlYA">Pro Bowl and All-Pro counting stats are incredibly important to Hall of Fame voters. It basically gets you in the conversation as the voters try to whittle down the list. If you look at the history of players to be enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame with only 2 Pro Bowls, the list is pretty bleak. For those players that ended their playing career in 1960 or later with a similar lack of honors there are only a few that we can look at as similar to Tillman. </p>
<p id="Vj87Y6">Paul Hornung made two Pro Bowls and 2 1st Team All-Pros for the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a> (1986 enshrinee, 20 years after playing career). Hornung won a bunch of championships and an MVP and had the pedigree as the first overall pick in the draft. To be honest, it’s surprising it took him as long as it did to make it. </p>
<p id="6l4leQ">There are a number of players with less impressive resumes than Hornung but with the argument that they were integral members of championship teams putting them over the top. Bullet Bob Hayes for the Cowboys (3 PB, 2 AP), Dave Robinson for the Packers (3 PB, 1 AP), John Riggins (1 PB, 1 AP) and Art Monk (3 PB, 1 AP) for Washington, and Isaac Bruce (4 PB, 0 AP) for the Rams are all in the Hall despite not racking up post-season honors. Even two pieces of the great ‘85 Bears owe a similar argument to get into the Hall in Jimbo Covert (2 PB, 2 AP) and Richard Dent (4 PB, 1 AP). </p>
<p id="Fa7AEz">There’s really only one player that has a similar lack of post-season honors and made it into the Hall of Fame and interestingly enough, played the same position as Tillman. Dick LeBeau made 3 Pro Bowls and no First Team All Pros for the Lions in the 60s with no championships. LeBeau remained in the minds of football people for years as a great defensive coordinator but he is in the Hall of Fame as a player, not a coach. </p>
<p id="W9XrEi">Alas, there’s still a pathway albeit slimmer than most <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> fans would hope it to be. That path is paved with records and the narrative that Charles Tillman changed the way the game is played.</p>
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<cite>Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>The Peanut Punch on Chris Cooley, 2010</figcaption>
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<p id="reHPP8"><strong>The Signature Move: The Peanut Punch</strong></p>
<p id="hY0S1u">Very few NFL players are associated with a specific move. Even fewer are blessed with a great name that is synonymous with the player. Only one move uses the player’s nickname as part of the nomenclature.</p>
<p id="My30iB">The Peanut Punch, knocking the ball out of the hands of the ball carrier through the use of a balled fist punched directly onto the football, is Charles Tillman’s signature move and gift to NFL defensive backs. He wasn’t trying to create fumbles by colliding with so much force that it separated the man from the ball. No, he was surgically removing it. Now you have it, now you don’t. But the use of the term Peanut Punch is used every single Sunday when a player uses the technique, keeping Tillman’s name alive.</p>
<p id="0tUOdW"><strong>The Signature Game: 4 Forced Fumbles</strong></p>
<p id="Z10NUP">Tillman’s signature game against the Titans in 2012 was one of the best games a defender has had in the history of football. He forced four fumbles, a single-game record that is hard to imagine ever getting matched, let alone broken. A record for the ages.</p>
<p id="owKKyR"><strong>The Signature Season: 10 Forced Fumbles</strong></p>
<p id="Me0IpR">Tillman co-owns the single-season record with 10 forced fumbles. Building off that signature game against the Titans, Tillman forced another 6 to tie the league record with double digits. There are plenty of defensive backs that play long careers in the NFL and don’t force 10 fumbles in their entire career.</p>
<p id="dZ7gly"><strong>An Outlier: Forced Fumbles for Defensive Back</strong></p>
<p id="suYPYN">Tillman is so far out on a chart with his career forced fumbles that he is a statistical outlier. Statistical outliers are good for Hall of Fame cases. It means he was so much better as a skill than everyone else it deserves attention.</p>
<p id="H7wPDU"><strong>He Changed the Game: Attacking Defensive Backs</strong></p>
<p id="FqvkCU">This one is probably the most interesting. Because voters preferred to focus on man-to-man corners, they ofter ignored Tillman when the time came for praising the best at the position. Tillman played his position with unique effectiveness and brought a takeaway mentality unlike anyone before him. There are corners today that incorporate that play-style as the Peanut Punch is taught to defensive backs around the league. Marlon Humphrey forced eight fumbles in 2020 while his teammate Marcus Peters added four himself. When someone changes the way the game is played that should force voters to go back and evaluate his impact on the game.</p>
<p id="8iKqcc"><strong>Final Thoughts:</strong></p>
<p id="Uasqdd">I wish Tillman’s 2012 came in 2005 and he could have been rewarded early on in his career with post-season accolades. If you swapped those two seasons, I think Tillman makes at least 5-6 Pro Bowls and 2 1st Team All-Pros and we’re having a very different conversation. As it stands, I think it will be difficult for Tillman to stay on the ballot and will likely need to be put up for consideration by the senior committee. Unfortunately for all of us Peanut fans, that means at least another 15 years before it can happen. Until that time, we need to keep the memory of his greatness alive so that he can one day take his rightful place at 2121 George Halas Drive in Canton, OH. </p>
<p id="RG7lwA"><em>Do you believe Charles Tillman will make the NFL Hall of Fame? Make your case in the comment below or find me on Twitter @gridironborn.</em></p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2021/6/28/22551801/pieces-of-peanut-part-5-the-hall-of-fame-case-chicago-bears-charles-tillman-hall-of-fame-nflJeff Berckes2021-06-28T16:00:00-05:002021-06-28T16:00:00-05:00Pieces of Peanut Part 4: President Peanut
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<figcaption>Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>We continue our tribute to Charles Tillman with an idea: President Peanut</p> <p id="Lx2S2V">Earlier this year, the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com">Denver Broncos</a> moved John Elway into the role of President of Football Operations. This is different from the role of the President and CEO of the Broncos, Joe Ellis, and different from the role of General Manager that Elway used to fill. The Broncos power structure now has four positions below the ownership level (President/CEO, President of Football Operations, General Manager, and Head Coach). The power structure gives Elway the ability to steer the ship in Denver without having to grind film to make player evaluations and make all of the myriad decisions required of a GM.</p>
<p id="avrzRy">Speculation surrounding the future of Head Coach Matt Nagy, General Manager Ryan Pace, and President Ted Phillips dominated Chicago sports talk after their 2020 season ended with a resounding defeat and some <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/nickelodeons-slime-zone-bears-saints-broadcast-amazing">Nickelodeon slime</a> to clean off their jerseys. Chairman George McCaskey ultimately decided to retain the services of all three for the 2021 season but the spotlight on Phillips interested me the most. </p>
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<cite>Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Pace and Nagy in 2018 at the introductory press conference</figcaption>
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<p id="WDRRFA">McCaskey went out of his way to make sure everyone knew that Phillips, who has worked for the Bears since 1983 and served as President since 1999, has no input on football decisions. He’s clearly there for the business operations side of things and as long as the McCaskey family is happy with the finances, the public outcry over his role in the football side of things falls on deaf ears. While it’s undeniably good that the Bears don’t rely on Phillips for football insight, they are missing a golden opportunity to create a role to take some of the burden off the General Manager and fill a role that the current team President cannot or should not. Why not add a fourth position like the Broncos and fill that role with someone who has football credibility?</p>
<p id="mqArdb">If the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> pursued this idea, they should fill that role with someone who oozes football credibility, a figure that people will respect in the community and in the boardroom. The person should be able to articulate the vision of Chicago Bears football into the future while embracing the rich history of its past. If you search through the history of Chicago Bears players and coaches, one name stands out above the rest: Charles Peanut Tillman.</p>
<p id="vOL9Rd">When the Bears drafted Tillman in the second round of the 2003 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a>, it was a full-circle moment. Tillman was born in Chicago but spent the majority of his youth following his father station to station in the US Army. After 12 seasons in Chicago, Tillman left as its greatest cornerback and one of its most impactful and beloved players in the history of the franchise. He was the Walter Payton Man of the Year for his extensive charitable work. He conducted himself with poise on and off the field. He is, in short, the best of what the Chicago Bears can offer and individuals like him need to be part of the organization moving forward.</p>
<p id="OYrFvX">That’s all well and good, but would Charles Tillman actually be interested in such a role? That’s not a question I can answer without talking to Tillman directly (and I’d welcome that opportunity!) but if I’m the Bears, it’s worth a try. Tillman studied Criminology at the University of Louisiana and landed a job with the FBI a few years ago. He may be living out his dream job already and who is to say a role like this would even interest him? </p>
<p id="NRNg0A">The answer is no if you don’t ask. The ball is in your court, Mr. McCaskey. </p>
<p id="XoJd9q"><em>What do you think of the idea of President Peanut? Sound off in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter @gridironborn.</em></p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2021/6/28/22551757/pieces-of-peanut-part-4-president-peanut-chicago-bears-charles-tillman-team-president-nflJeff Berckes2021-06-28T14:00:00-05:002021-06-28T14:00:00-05:00Pieces of Peanut Part 3: The CB1 Legacy
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<figcaption>Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>We continue our tribute to Charles Tillman taking a look at the tradition he’s leaving behind for the Bears with Kyle Fuller and Jaylon Johnson. </p> <p id="9GFL65">Charles Tillman made his first appearance in an NFL game in Week 1 of his rookie season. He made four tackles and, of course, forced a fumble. He made his first start in Week 4, a 24-21 victory over the Raiders, making six tackles and getting his first pass breakup. Over the course of his rookie year, Tillman would collect 86 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a sack, four interceptions, 12 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. </p>
<p id="PufwU1">Not bad for a rookie.</p>
<p id="9yqU2g">Tillman ascended to the starter’s role quickly despite the presence of veterans R.W. McQuarters and Jerry Azumah. That 7-9 squad offered little hope on offense (shocker) but showed off a few building blocks of a great defense around the already established star of Brian Urlacher. Those names included a couple of rookies in Lance Briggs and the new CB1 - Charles Tillman.</p>
<p id="Sar3H7">With all due respect to some good players in the Bears long history, they are not particularly deep at cornerback. Bennie McRae played good football for the Bears throughout most of the 60s and Leslie Frazier’s time in Chicago was simply cut too short by injuries. Donnell Woolford toiled in the desert of Bears football in the 90s, making a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> in 1993, the first Bears CB to do so in the modern era. It’s hard to make the case that any of those players truly established greatness for a long period of time in Chicago.</p>
<p id="0GaFyk">Tillman ascended to the lead CB role ten years after the Wolf made his lone Pro Bowl, and started a chain that will hopefully last long into the future. Tillman had a forgettable 2004, missing half the season with injury, but started a string of eight straight Pro Bowl worthy seasons before the triceps injury derailed him in 2013. Tillman’s last start for the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> came in 2014, in Week 2 against the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a>. Lost to injury for the year, Tillman watched rookie Kyle Fuller fill in admirably, intercepting two balls and establishing himself as a rookie ready to play.</p>
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<img alt="Los Angeles Chargers v&nbsp;Chicago Bears" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kuYAnEAmm6cS38WMR_-HEhC9mw4=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22649848/1183795769.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Fuller’s interception in 2019 against the Chargers</figcaption>
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<p id="daYiAC">The first-round pick started the next week and proceeded to make every start the rest of the season and started every game in five of the next six seasons (Fuller missed the entire 2016 season). While the <a href="https://www.gobblercountry.com/">Virginia Tech</a> Hokie didn’t have the penchant for punch-outs like Tillman, he played at a high level, matching Tillman’s post-season honors with two Pro Bowls and a First-Team All-Pro selection. </p>
<p id="8Cxy4V">Fuller benefited from Tillman’s mentorship in his rookie year and found himself in the mentor’s role in 2020 with rookie Jaylon Johnson. Wearing the same number as Tillman, Johnson started Week 1 opposite Tillman, breaking up 3 Matthew Stafford passes in a 27-23 win over the Lions. Johnson would go on to finish his promising rookie campaign with 15 pass breakups but missed the final 3 contests with a shoulder issue. </p>
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<img alt="Chicago Bears v Tennessee Titans" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/x-CMdC5PXiJA_HdwKj66XDzIXQE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22298830/1286529286.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>The future CB1, Jaylon Johnson</figcaption>
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<p id="z6vMDu">While Fuller and Johnson made an exciting pair, it would mirror the Tillman-Fuller duo as it was cut short before it could really establish itself. The Bears moved on from Kyle Fuller, cutting their All-Pro CB in a cap-saving move. He was signed by Denver to reunite with Vic Fangio about 17 minutes later. Because of this move, the mantle of CB1 moves over to Johnson, who certainly has the confidence to make it happen. </p>
<p id="zHvmD7">The hope for the current #33 is that he can stay healthy. A recurring shoulder issue will be a concern for the Bears and that shoulder needs to hold up if he hopes to duplicate the success of his predecessors. While Bears fans should remain hopeful this legacy will continue with Johnson, the Bears should prioritize investment in an outside corner again soon to form a great cornerback duo.</p>
<p id="mRQ5VT">Tillman was paired with Tim Jennings from 2010 to 2014. While Tillman was dominating competition during his peak years, quarterbacks threw to the other side, where Jennings lay in wait, poaching a league-high 9 balls in 2012. Jennings made two Pro Bowls playing opposite Tillman, forming an impressive 1-2 punch. That’s the kind of legacy the Bears need to invest in moving forward. </p>
<p id="oQpVru">So, here’s to Jaylon Johnson. May his health allow him to fill the legacy started by Charles Tillman and carried by Kyle Fuller. Here’s to the Bears front office. May they see the wisdom of giving Johnson a partner to run with long-term to give QBs no good options when trying to pass on the Bears.</p>
<p id="ehGu7Y"><em>Will Jaylon Johnson carry the CB1 legacy for the Bears? Should the Bears prioritize drafting another CB soon to pair with Johnson? Let me know in the comments or find me on Twitter @gridironborn.</em></p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2021/6/28/22551776/pieces-of-peanut-part-3-legacy-chicago-bears-charles-tillman-cornerback-kyle-fuller-jaylon-johnsonJeff Berckes2021-06-28T12:00:00-05:002021-06-28T12:00:00-05:00Pieces of Peanut Part 2: The Peanut Punch
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<figcaption>Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>We continue our tribute to Charles Tillman with a focus on his signature move, the Peanut Punch</p> <p id="gJvSCm">To understand the Charles Tillman story, we need to talk about the Peanut Punch. A move with a moniker that continues to grow the legend of Tillman’s play well beyond his playing career. A name that perfectly pairs the creator (Peanut) with the action (punch) in an alliterative flair that is both memorable and fun to say. </p>
<p id="dvhpQf">Tillman’s first professional game action came against the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> on opening weekend in 2003. An objectively ugly game for the Bears, a 49-7 loss, kicking off a season that proved to be Dick Jauron’s last. However, if you look closely enough, you can see a spark that would eventually fuel a fire that burnished a legend.</p>
<p id="Zuh5FO">Charles Tillman – Forced Fumble (1).</p>
<p id="a6UhP5">When Tillman played his last game for the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a>, coincidentally against those same 49ers, opening a new stadium in Santa Clara, he would have 42 forced fumbles under his belt spread over a dozen seasons. He’d add two more in Carolina during his final, comeback season to retire with 44, tied for 6<sup>th</sup> all-time with Hall of Famer Chris Doleman.</p>
<p id="LGBZei">Those 44 punch-outs are more than Hall of Famers Bruce Smith (43), Derrick Thomas (41), and fellow Bears legend Richard Dent (37). That’s not nearly the most impressive thing about that list either.</p>
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<img alt="Chicago Bears v San Francisco 49ers" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ko-4I_v5kPmNyYR0yGV6JEfkdZc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22684545/93020733.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Peanut Punch on Frank Gore</figcaption>
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<p id="FEnY9w">The entire top 10 list outside of Tillman is only pass rushers. The way to stack forced fumble numbers is through strip-sacks, not open-field tackles. The first defensive back on the list after Tillman is Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins, a hard-hitting safety tied for 13<sup>th</sup> with 37. Hall of Famer Charles Woodson, the 18-year NFL veteran, is the next defensive back on the list, tied for 19<sup>th</sup> with 33.</p>
<p id="JNedvv">“A lot of people ask me how I came up with it, how I developed it,” Tillman explained at his <a href="https://www.espn.com/blog/chicago-bears/post/_/id/4703057/charles-tillman-reminisces-about-randy-moss-peanut-punch-in-farewell-press-conference">retirement press conference</a>. “And, I was a guy who — I’m not Brian Urlacher, I’m not Lance Briggs, I’m not Thomas Davis or Luke Kuechly — I don’t hit that hard. I don’t hit like those four guys. I like to think of myself as a little guy, so I’m just going to separate the man from the ball the best way I know how and that’s not with my shoulder pads, that’s with my fist. And, you know, I did it a few times, I did it a couple times in college, it kind of carried over into the league and 44 forced fumbles later, it was a patented move. I don’t know who coined the name Peanut Punch. I wish I had gotten into some of that stock so I could have reserved the right to use that for myself.”</p>
<p id="h69sIs">Tillman earned long-overdue recognition with his first career <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> trip in 2011, finally establishing himself as a top corner in the league in the eyes of the public. Pro Bowls may not be the best measure of the best players in the league, but they do indicate a certain level of awareness to the average NFL fan. However, the Peanut Punch didn’t enter the popular lexicon until Tillman’s iconic 2012 season.</p>
<p id="RBUKZ3">On an early November day in Nashville, Charles Tillman set fire to the <a href="https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/">Tennessee Titans</a> with four forced fumbles in a 51-20 drubbing. Four. In one game. Four forced fumbles is a good season. </p>
<p id="1ztgnw">Think about it this way: Tillman hits you with a Peanut Punch and pops the ball out of your hands. You head to the sidelines where you get an earful from your position coach, coordinator, and maybe the Head Coach. “WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?! WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ALL WEEK!” You and your teammates are not making that mistake again.</p>
<p id="Nh4TZ0">Except the Titans let it happen again. And again. And yet again. Four forced fumbles for one player. It’s like a cheat code in a video game. Kenny Britt, Chris Johnson, Craig Stevens, and Jared Cook all fell victim to the Peanut Punch that day. Highlight shows replay it over and over as one of the most incredible individual performances in NFL history. Tillman would add six more forced fumbles that season en route to a share of the NFL record for single-season forced fumbles (10), a 1<sup>st</sup> Team All-Pro honor, and a sticky name for the signature move.</p>
<p id="u3HH7G">Looking back at the forced fumbles in Tillman’s career reads like a who’s who of great football players. He got Randy Moss in 2004, Clinton Portis and Brett Favre in 2005, Maurice Jones-Drew in 2008, and Frank Gore in 2009. He victimized James Jones twice in a 2007 game against the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a> to preserve a 27-20 win. How about the game against the Eagles in 2009 where he got DeSean Jackson twice and another on LeSean McCoy? Or how about the 2012 game against the Lions when he forced two fumbles on the same series against the same player, Brandon Pettigrew? Late career Tillman added Mark Ingram, Marshawn Lynch, and Adrian Peterson to his list of victims. </p>
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<img alt="Chicago Bears v Green Bay Packers" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1aIcuIvLfUoKdJZi7HokaK4hDK0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22684433/151969223.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Peanut Punch on Jermichael Finley</figcaption>
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<p id="c82upR">You might think that the four fumbles against the Titans would top the list of teams he victimized the most but he got the most punches in against the Bears biggest rival. Eight forced fumbles against the Packers. In addition to the Brett Favre strip-sack and the two against Jones, he added forced fumbles against James Starks (2), Jermichael Finley, Ryan Grant, and Eddie Lacy. </p>
<p id="SeMwdE">In the years since his retirement, Tillman still makes his presence known on unsuspecting ball carriers every Sunday all across the league. Inspiring coaches and players to attack the football in the same way, the technique is taught and practiced by the next generation of defenders. The Peanut Punch democratized, spread across the league to liberate the ball from the offense. Each time it happens, the announcers identify the name of the move, breathing life back into his great career.</p>
<p id="RNIs3T">Professional football has been around for over a century and very few moves are associated with a single person so strongly. Deacon Jones’s head slap, long banished from the game, and Reggie White’s “hump” move come to mind. The beauty of the Peanut Punch is that it’s easily recognizable, deployed frequently enough to build a “brand awareness” around it, and leads to a big moment in the game.</p>
<p id="boUCA9">The Peanut Punch is here to stay.</p>
<p id="rYLTmm"><em>Is the Peanut Punch the best name for a move or technique in football? Hit up the comments below or find me on Twitter @gridironborn. </em></p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2021/6/28/22551738/pieces-of-peanut-part-2-the-peanut-punch-chicago-bears-charles-tillman-forced-fumbles-recordJeff Berckes2021-06-28T10:00:00-05:002021-06-28T10:00:00-05:00Pieces of Peanut Part 1: Tillman by the Numbers
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<img alt="Chicago Bears v Arizona Cardinals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vXKAgnsPkp_2rEbKJe0ivvMC9a8=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69513473/158688889.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>To expand on the 30 Day Challenge, we take a look at the legacy of Charles Peanut Tillman</p> <p id="uicqdk">Over the course of his career, Charles Tillman put up some incredible statistics for the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a>. To start to appreciate just how impactful his career was for the Bears, we start our appreciation series with a simple look at some of the extraordinary numbers he accumulated.</p>
<p id="eNX0yZ"><strong>156 Games played in a Bears Uniform</strong></p>
<p id="8yLWla">Tillman’s 156 games in a Bears uniform ranks in the top 25 players in modern history and the most for a cornerback. </p>
<p id="Y5UDvR"><strong>140 Passes Defensed</strong></p>
<p id="j1Pc7F">The NFL started recognizing this stat starting in 1999 and Tillman holds the franchise record, unsurprisingly. He finished his career tied for 15<sup>th</sup> in league history.</p>
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<img alt="Chicago Bears v Green Bay Packers" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1aIcuIvLfUoKdJZi7HokaK4hDK0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22684433/151969223.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>One of the many forced fumbles of Tillman’s career. This one should count double since it’s against GB.</figcaption>
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<p id="AD8mMI"><strong>44 Forced Fumbles</strong></p>
<p id="XB8ThZ">This stat also started in 1999 and Tillman has the most in franchise history. He finished his career tied for 6<sup>th</sup> place in NFL history and has the most forced fumbles of any defensive back. The company he keeps in the top ten are all pass rushers, with Robert Mathis and Julius Peppers above and Bruce Smith and Derrick Thomas below him. The active player closest to Tillman is Robert Quinn with 28. The closest active defensive back is Malcolm Jenkins with 19. In other words, no one is catching him anytime soon.</p>
<p id="X49RLh"><strong>36 Bears Interceptions</strong></p>
<p id="8nMjHl">Ranks third in team history behind Gary Fencik (38) and Richie Petitbon (37). Tillman’s two interceptions for the Panthers tie him with Fencik in overall career interceptions. The closest active Bears player to Tillman in the interceptions record book is Eddie Jackson with 10. The recently departed Kyle Fuller finished his Bears career with 19.</p>
<p id="JKTKUU"><strong>24 Tackles for Loss</strong></p>
<p id="iRiUHr">The most tackles for loss in franchise history amongst defensive backs, Tillman was not afraid to blow up a play in the backfield.</p>
<p id="AoHsN4"><strong>8 Interception Return TDs</strong></p>
<p id="lnUAe6">Franchise record holder and tied for 8<sup>th</sup> in league history. Despite not having as many interceptions as some of the players above him on the all-time list, Tillman took advantage of the opportunities he had with the ball in his hands.</p>
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<img alt="Chicago Bears v Arizona Cardinals" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HWoCVKLIGO5TL7qBcYqm4u7voGI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22684431/158688913.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Tillman scoring on an interception return in 2012 in Arizona</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="YyEsTm"><strong>2 </strong><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl"><strong>Pro Bowl</strong></a><strong>s</strong></p>
<p id="YTMMPO">Simply put, it’s a travesty he didn’t have more. The narrative about Tillman’s impact didn’t get enough recognition early on and that makes him something of a late bloomer. Still, he was the first pure Bears corner to make multiple Pro Bowl appearances, a mark that has since been tied by Kyle Fuller.</p>
<p id="BUqQZB"><strong>1 First-Team All-Pro</strong></p>
<p id="iaL7Zo">See above. The All-Pro season was an all-time great year and one can only imagine how different the narrative would be if that season came early in his career. It would have established him as a known quantity and given permission for people to vote him onto post seasons honors regularly.</p>
<p id="aSte2N"><strong>1 Man of the Year Award</strong></p>
<p id="Sc3whB">The NFL says this is their highest honor. It’s named after the GOAT, Walter Payton. Only two Bears have won it since Payton did during his playing career. Jim Flanigan was the first in 1999, the season that Payton passed away. Tillman was the second with his work at the <a href="https://www.charlestillman.org/">Cornerstone Foundation</a>.</p>
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<img alt="3rd Annual NFL Honors" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/M8u7xDoEYNuySXQVlO3cuhnTzDg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22684432/466482925.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic</cite>
<figcaption>The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, Charles Tillman in 2014</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="Krj9ls"><em>What is the most impressive number associated with Tillman’s career? Let me know in the comments or find me on Twitter @gridironborn.</em></p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2021/6/28/22551716/pieces-of-peanut-part-1-tillman-by-the-numbers-charles-tillman-chicago-bears-nfl-punchJeff Berckes2021-06-28T08:00:00-05:002021-06-28T08:00:00-05:0030 Day Challenge: Favorite Bears DB
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<img alt="Chicago Bears v Carolina Panthers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tfUjzu7Jr-2NO6aBgSN27_ScyfQ=/0x0:2994x1996/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69512898/175957398.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Every day in the month of June, we’ll ask a different Chicago Bears-related question to our readers. Make sure you guys participate the entire month so we can all get to know the WCG Community a little better. Today will be dedicated to Charles Peanut Tillman.</p> <p id="pBY5d1">The <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> have only made me cry once.</p>
<p id="l12nxH">Throw something? Sure.</p>
<p id="llPcV0">Curse? More than my fair share.</p>
<p id="GfVpSl">Actual tears in the eyes that needed to be wiped away? Just the one time.</p>
<p id="Yv2Kkb">September 14, 2014, a memorable night for the Bears against the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a>. The Sunday Night Football crew called the first-ever game at the newly built Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The Bears, down 20-7 to start the 4<sup>th</sup> quarter, mounted one of the biggest comebacks in team history highlighted by rookie Kyle Fuller’s first two career interceptions. But the joy of a comeback victory felt hollow. A pyrrhic victory if there ever was one.</p>
<p id="jaKTgJ">That is because Charles Tillman watched the comeback from the sidelines, re-injuring his right triceps that cost him the end of the 2013 season. The Bears placed Tillman on injured reserve just two days later, effectively ending his Bears career.</p>
<p id="aPaOgS">The lasting image from that game for me will always be the shot of Tillman on the sidelines, soaking in the diagnosis, watching the action with tears in his eyes. At that moment, many Bears fans realized with him that this was the last we’d see of Peanut in Navy and Orange. When that realization hit my cerebral cortex, an involuntary reaction sent an order for water to escape through my eyes.</p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bP1Rvsu0Hb1VzUtMK7k5FX8X_WQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22684426/charles_tillman_crying.jpg">
<figcaption>Tillman after re-injuring his right triceps, his last game for the Bears</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="NdKV6T">I watched an exciting comeback win with melancholy and infinite sadness. My favorite player would play no more.</p>
<p id="rohoVN">Tillman held the spot of “my favorite player” on the active roster for most of his career, but it was through a few Bears <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2020/7/8/21316382/the-championship-belt-series-part-5-mack-urlacher-tillman-peppers-briggs-hester-forte-hicks-long">history</a> projects that I realized not only is Charles Tillman my favorite defensive back in <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/5/23/18636529/wcg-top-100-chicago-bears-players-all-time-history-centennial-anniversary-season-championship">team history</a>, he’s my favorite Bears player of <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2020/6/29/21304537/chicago-bears-history-halas-mack-urlacher-mike-brown-charles-peanut-tillman-devin-hester-briggs">all-time</a>. Number 33 for the Bears handled his business on and off the field with class and played the game in a way never seen before. The cover skills, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOtLfZKbx28">playmaking ability</a>, and ferocity in attacking the football added up to a combination with very few comparisons in the history of the game. The dude just made plays. From ripping the ball away from the great Randy Moss to seal a victory to the nine defensive TDs to the amazing forced fumble records, his game was special.</p>
<p id="qnJMPk">I think many of you agree. I asked Twitter for their favorite DB in the last 20 years and Tillman earned 80% of the vote, beating out Mike Brown (11%), Kyle Fuller (5%), and Eddie Jackson (4%). With all due respect to Gary Fencik and Richie Petitbon, I think Tillman would win the majority of Bears fans in a 101-year history vote too.</p>
<p id="fAROSr">I’ve had many favorite Bears players on the active roster over the years. Some fade away once they retire or move on, while others still hold a warm glow in my heart. Tillman’s glow grows as time moves on, as more people come to appreciate what he gave the game in uniform and what he continues to give the world as an excellent human being away from it.</p>
<p id="Q50fAw">To show my appreciation for my all-time favorite Chicago Bear, I will post a series of articles today to help tell the story of the greatest defensive back in team history, Charles “Peanut” Tillman.</p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qCHBQjTDGMVwwP9ij89TGYejt8A=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22684424/9rKJvziGeRYGdo_1ozqoC__jqAc8Zhk1LKqENiRJ6po.jpg">
<figcaption>Tillman in the reflection of Calvin Johnson’s visor</figcaption>
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<p id="0L5alH"><em>Who is your favorite defensive back of all time? Answer below in the comments or find me on Twitter @gridironborn.</em></p>
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https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2021/6/28/22551692/30-day-challenge-favorite-db-charles-tillman-peanut-chicago-bears-nfl-punch-mike-brownJeff Berckes