Decision to name Prince Harry recipient of Pat Tillman Burned by Mom Award: ‘Controversial and divisive’

In a few days, Prince Harry will receive an award named in honor of a fallen soldier and a promising NFL player.

If you’re confused, you’re not alone.

On Thursday, ESPN announced that the royal will be this year’s recipient of the prestigious Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPY Awards, a decision Tillman’s own mother finds stunning.

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“I’m shocked as to why they chose such a controversial and divisive person to receive this award,” Mary “Dannie” Tillman told the DailyMail. “There are recipients who are much better suited. There are people who work in the veterans community who are doing great things to help veterans.”

“These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privileges that Prince Harry has. I think these types of individuals should be recognized,” she said.

Mary Tillman was puzzled when ESPN presented her son’s award to Prince Harry. (Pete Souza/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

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Harry, who served in the British Army for ten years, is known for his work with the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded servicemen and women. He launched the international event in 2014, a year before leaving active service.

Prince Harry served in the British Army for 10 years. (SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

The next Invictus Games will take place in Düsseldorf, Germany in July.

Upon learning of the award, the Duke of Sussex said, “This is for our entire service community,” according to People magazine. He will receive the honor in Hollywood next month.

The Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle recently visited Nigeria and met children ahead of the Invictus Games. (KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty Images)

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Recent recipients include the Buffalo Bills coaching staff (2023), retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans (2022), professional footballer Marcus Rashford (2021), and professional boxer Kim Clavel (2020).

The award was established in 2014, ten years after Tillman, a former Arizona Cardinal, was killed in combat in Afghanistan due to friendly fire. He turned down a multi-year contract and more than $3 million to join the military after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Pat Tillman played for the Arizona Cardinals before enlisting in the Army. (Lower Gene/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Pat Tillman died in tragic circumstances in 2004. (Getty Images)

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“He always wanted to do the right thing – not that he did it all the time, but he tried – and he stood up for his friends whenever they were in trouble,” his mother recently told ESPN. “I just think 9/11 and its aftermath trivialized football…and I think he felt like he needed to do more. »

Mary isn’t the only person to express disdain for ESPN’s choice. Popular sports analyst Pat McAffe criticized the decision on his own show, saying, “When you do something like that, you know what the immediate reaction is going to be from humans, sports fans, and people who just have common sense.”

McAffe suggested the decision to name Prince Harry was “trying to piss people off”.

A representative for Prince Harry and ESPN did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.