Overview

• Tillman disclosed on The Pivot podcast that after about eight years he resigned because he disagreed with the FBI’s immigration enforcement work under President Trump.
• He said agents were told to pursue the most dangerous criminals but were instead directed to target immigration cases, which he felt he could refuse on conscience.
• Tillman emphasized that the shift in focus came from Washington rather than the Chicago field office and that he departed on good terms.
• He noted his NFL earnings gave him the financial freedom to leave, adding that many colleagues lacked that option.
• He has returned to media, cohosting NFL Players Second Acts and Bears Den podcasts, and he is a modern-era nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame; reporting has also indicated that more than 20% of FBI agents were diverted to immigration enforcement.