Rusty Tillman obit

Former NFL player, assistant coach Rusty Tillman dies at 75

 He was not on the list.

 

Rusty Tillman, who spent 30 years playing and coaching in the NFL, died Sunday, the Seahawks announced. He was 75.

Tillman became a special teams standout in his eight seasons playing for Washington. Tillman, who was nicknamed “The King,” played seven different special teams positions and was voted a special teams captain from 1974-77.

Tillman retired after the ’77 season and began his coaching career with the Seahawks two years later. He coached special teams, linebackers, tight ends and spent three seasons as defensive coordinator in his career with Seattle from 1979-94.

His 16 seasons with the Seahawks, which spanned three head coaches, makes him the longest-tenured coach in franchise history.

Tillman also was the head coach of the XFL’s New York/New Jersey Hitmen during the league’s first run in 2001.

“Rusty was one of the great special teams players of all time when he was with Washington,” former Seahawks safety and defensive backs coach Paul Moyer told the team website. “He was a legend. He was one of the best motivators and is one of the greatest special teams players and coaches of all time.”

Tillman was nicknamed “The King” for his special teams mastery. He played seven different special teams positions and served as special teams captain from 1974 to 1977. He was a member of Washington’s 1972 NFC Championship squad.

After retiring from football, Tillman stayed in the NFL as an assistant coach for the Seattle Seahawks for 16 years, where he coached special teams, tight ends, linebackers before becoming defensive coordinator. He also spent time as assistant with Tampa Bay, Oakland, Indianapolis and Minnesota. He served as head coach of the XFL’s New York/New Jersey Hitmen; uninterested in the sports entertainment approach the league was taking, Tillman mostly took a straight approach to coaching in the league, refusing to get wrapped up in the publicity stunts. Tillman was called "Gutless Rusty" by WWF announcer and sitting Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, who as part of a publicity stunt, came out of his XFL broadcast booth to try to provoke a response from Tillman near the end of the league's week 4 telecast; Tillman turned away and refused to answer him.

 

No. 67

Position:            Linebacker

Kick returner

 

Personal information

Born:            February 27, 1946

Beloit, Wisconsin, U.S.

Died:    March 14, 2021 (aged 75)

Flagstaff, Arizona, U.S.

Career information

 

High school:            Agua Fria (Avondale, Arizona)

College:            Northern Arizona

Undrafted:            1970

Career history

 

As a player:

Washington Redskins (1970–1977)

 

As a coach:

Seattle Seahawks (1979–1982)

Special teams coach

Seattle Seahawks (1983–1986)

Linebackers / Special teams

Seattle Seahawks (1987–1991)

Tight ends / Special teams

Seattle Seahawks (1992–1994)

Defensive coordinator

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1995)

Defensive coordinator

Oakland Raiders (1996-1997)

Special teams

Indianapolis Colts (1998)

Defensive coordinator

New York/New Jersey Hitmen (2001)

Head Coach

Minnesota Vikings (2003–2005)

Special teams

 

Career highlights and awards

70 Greatest Redskins

 

Career NFL statistics

Games played:            107

Fumble recoveries:            3

Kick return average:            9.9