Pat Tillman’s Mom Slams ESPYs for Honoring “Divisive” Prince Harry in Her Son’s Name

Mary Tillman said she was “shocked” by ESPN’s ESPY Awards choosing to honor Prince Harry with the 2024 Pat Tillman Award for Service.

In Mary Tillman‘s opinion, the 2024 ESPY Awards aren’t winning themselves any glory by choosing to honor Prince Harry in her late son’s name.

“I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” she told the Daily Mail of ESPN opting to award the Duke of Sussex—who is a British Army veteran—the 2024 Pat Tillman Award for Service during the ESPYs on July 11.

In announcing Harry as the recipient of the Tillman award, which is “given to a person with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that echoes the legacy of the former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger,” ESPN noted the royal’s two tours in Afghanistan and his subsequent cofounding of the Invictus Games for wounded servicemen and women.

But Pat’s mom, who said she was not consulted before the pick was announced, had her reasons for voicing her disapproval.

“There are recipients that are far more fitting,” Mary continued. “There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans. These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has. I feel that those types of individuals should be recognized.”

E! News has reached out to Harry’s rep for comment but has not yet heard back.

Gene Lower/Getty Images

Pat was a first-team All-American at Arizona State who was drafted 26th by the Arizona Cardinals in 1998. Playing safety, he turned down a $3.6 million contract to enlist in the U.S. Army following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

He was 27 when he was killed April 22, 2004, in Spera, Afghanistan, by what Defense Department and congressional investigations later determined was friendly fire.

Tom Cruise led a tribute to Pat at the 2004 ESPYs that July.

Passion/Kobal

Meanwhile, ESPN host Pat McAfee also pushed back against his network giving Harry the award, calling it a selection that was “trying to piss people off.”

“When you do something like this,” the 37-year-old said on his eponymous show, “you know the immediate reaction from humans and from sports fans and, like, people with, like, just common sense in brains.”

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Responding to the backlash, which included an online petition demanding ESPN reconsider, the network refused to sack Harry.

“ESPN, with the support of the Tillman Foundation, is honoring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, specifically for the work of The Invictus Games Foundation as it celebrates its 10th year promoting healing through the power of sport for military service members and veterans around the world,” an ESPN spokesperson said in a statement, per The Athletic.

“While we understand not everyone will agree with all honorees selected for any award, The Invictus Games Foundation does incredible work and ESPN believes this is a cause worth celebrating.”

Harry, 39, has credited his military service for changing his  life, “forever and for the better.”

His experience “made me the man I am today,” he said in a video address at the 2020 Stand Up for Heroes benefit. “And it also connected me with some of the strongest, funniest and most memorable people I’ve ever met.”

Serving “changed how I viewed sacrifice and service,” Harry said. “I was born into a life of duty, but it was during my decade in the army that I committed to a life of service.”

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who returned to active-player status seven months after going into cardiac arrest during a January 2023 Monday Night Football game, was given the award last year.