Pat Tillman

Former NFL player Pat Tillman was killed Thursday while serving as an Army Rangers soldier on a mission in southeastern Afghanistan.

Two Sports Illustrated stories help us honor someone truly remarkable: “Not Standing Pat: A star NFL player leaves the game to serve his country” and “A cut above: Pat Tillman, Arizona State’s height-loving, tree-swinging, book-cracking linebacker, is the best player you’ve never heard of.”

See also Sports Illustrated writer Tim Layden on Remembering Pat Tillman, published online today.

They say the good die young. Pat Tillman was 27.