New Date: October 17. 

Get Tickets
Student tickets available 9/12. General Public tickets available 10/9.

Charles “Peanut” Tillman—former Chicago Bear, Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year awardee and one of the best cornerbacks of his era—is coming to NIU to speak about his journey to the NFL and beyond the gridiron.  He'll share his insights on building the champion within that impacts the greater community at NIU, home and future communities after graduation. This event, sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, is free to NIU students, faculty and staff.  Alumni and guests can purchase tickets for $5. 

About Charles Tillman: 
Charles Tillman was born in Chicago and spent most of his youth traveling around the world. The son of a sergeant in the United States Army, Tillman attended eleven different schools during his youth, but eventually graduated from Copperas Cove High School in Texas. Tillman attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he played for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team and graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.  

He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2003 and played cornerback until 2014 when he signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers. He played in Superbowl XLI (41) during his time with the Bears and Superbowl L (50) during his time with the Panthers. In 2013, he was recognized for his off-the-field contributions with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for his charitable work and community involvement. He retired from the NFL in 2016.   

In retirement, Tillman trained with federal agents at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia and officially joined the FBI as a federal agent in 2018. He also founded the Cornerstone Foundation to help improve the lives of critically and chronically ill children throughout Chicago. Tillman created the foundation after his second-youngest daughter was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, which resulted in a heart transplant.