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Eric Tillman (born July 24, 1957) is a consultant for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League and the former general manager of the BC Lions (1993–94), Toronto Argonauts (1997, 1999), Ottawa Renegades (2002–04), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2006–2010), and Edmonton Eskimos (2010–2012) He won Grey Cups with teams he was managing in 1994, 1997 and 2007.

Tillman previously served as a CFL analyst for TSN, the CBC and Rogers Sportsnet, and as a scout.

Senior Bowl

Tillman began his career as a CFL executive in 1982 as the player personnel director of the Montreal Concordes. From 1984 to 1993, Tillman served as Executive Director of the Senior Bowl, a game sponsored by National Football League designed to showcase top players graduating from United States colleges.

Among the highlights of Tillman's tenure where the 1986 game which featured Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson, and the 1987 game which featured Don Shula coaching the South team, which included his son Alabama quarterback Mike Shula (current offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers), against the North squad, quarterbacked by Michigan's Jim Harbaugh (current head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.) The South won a thrilling 42-38 last minute victory in the nationally televised event.

CFL

Tillman has spent 13 seasons serving as a CFL General Manager. During that period, four of his teams have played in Grey Cups, with three (BC, Toronto and Saskatchewan) winning league championships.

BC Lions

From 1993 to 1995, Tillman was the General Manager of the BC Lions. Tillman took over a team that went 3-15 in 1992. Under Tillman, the Lions posted a 31–22–1 record and upset the Baltimore Stallions in the 82nd Grey Cup. The Lions success came in spite of regular fighting between head coach Dave Ritchie and owner Bill Comrie and a lack of team harmony.

In 1995, Norton Herrick, an Orlando, Florida real estate developer, announced plans to move the CFL's Las Vegas Posse to Tillman's hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. Tillman was to be the club's general manager, however plans fell through and the relocation did not take place and Tillman remained with BC.

Toronto Argonauts

In November 1995, the World League of American Football named Tillman it's Director of Football Operations. Tillman, however preferred overseeing a single team so in 1997 he returned to the CFL as general manager of the Toronto Argonauts. That year, the Argonauts won the Grey Cup. However, Tillman and head coach Don Matthews had a tumultuous relationship. On March 1, 1998, Tillman officially departed the Argonauts. He then joined TSN as a football analyst. In 1999, Matthews left the Argonauts to become head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos and, after Wally Buono turned down an offer to become head coach and general manager, the Argos asked Tillman to return as GM. When the team was purchased by New York businessman Sherwood Schwarz after the 1999 season, Tillman was fired and replaced by Schwarz's cousin, J. I. Albrecht. After his dismissal, Tillman returned to TSN.

Ottawa Renegades

On October 23, 2001, Tillman was named the first General Manager of the expansion Ottawa Renegades. Ottawa won three games their inaugural season and seven games the following year. In 2004, the Renegades gave head coach Joe Paopao the title of director of football operations. Although Tillman worked closely wit Head Coach Joe Paopao.

After leaving Ottawa, Tillman served as an analyst for the CBC and Rogers Sportsnet.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Part way through the 2006 CFL season, Tillman was hired as the Roughriders general manager after they fired long time GM Roy Shivers. ref name="CFL GM pleads guilty to sexual assault" /> Tillman promised to clean up the team's image and the Roughriders adopted a code of conduct which required players to obey the law, act with honesty and integrity, respect others, and take responsibility for their actions.Prior to his hiring, the Riders had not hosted a home playoff game in 18 years (1988), and only had one winning season (2003) in the previous 12 years. During his three year tenure, with Kent Austin and Ken Miller serving as Head Coaches, the Riders regular season record was 31-22-1, they hosted three consecutive home playoff games, played in two Grey Cups, winning the 2007 championship.

During Tillman's three years with the team they hosted three consecutive home playoff games and played in two Grey Cups. In 2007, the Roughriders won their third ever Grey Cup. Among the key signings made by Tillman were head coach Kent Austin, defensive end Stevie Baggs, receivers Weston Dressler and Rob Bagg, defensive back Omarr Morgan, and running back Corey Holmes. He also acquired many key players who would be part of the Roughriders 2013 championship season, including Darian Durant, Chris Getzlaf, and John Chick. In July 2008, Tillman was given a contract extension through 2010.

Summary assault charges, absolute discharge and resignation

On August 6, 2008, Tillman was encouraged to leave a team board meeting because he was acting strangely. Tillman's attorney would state that Tillman was not thinking clearly because he had taken a double dose of sleep aids and pain medication for a sore back and that he did not remember what happened. On January 27, 2009, Tillman was charged with summary sexual assault. He was placed on paid administrative leave by the team on February 2, 2009.

Tillman pleaded guilty to the charge on January 4, 2010, the day his trial on this summary offence was to begin. He was granted an absolute discharge the following day and subsequently received no criminal record but was fined $50.00. Judge Murray Hinds stated that Tillman was "genuinely remorseful in this case there's no suggestion that Mr. Tillman is not generally of good character. He has no prior criminal record. His behaviour towards on Aug. 6 appears to be an aberration fuelled by his consumption of two non-prescription drugs." On January 8, 2010 he resigned from his position as the Roughriders' general manager.

Edmonton Eskimos

On September 14, 2010, Tillman was hired as General Manager of the Edmonton Eskimos. He took over an Eskimos team that had a league-worst 2-8 record. Tillman stated that his primary goal would be improving the team's Canadian players. According to Eskimos president Rick LeLacheur, the team received a "substantial" number of phone calls from fans opposed to hiring Tillman, however, the Eskimos organization had deemed him worthy of a second chance. After Tillman's hiring, the Eskimos won five out of its eight remaining games and finished out of the playoffs by only two points.

In Tillman's first full season with the team, the Eskimos finished with an 11-7 record, which tied them with the Calgary Stampeders and BC Lions for first place in the West. Edmonton defeated Calgary 33-19 in the West Semifinal, but lost to BC 40-23 in the West Final.

On Dececmber 12, 2011, Tillman traded quarterback Ricky Ray to the Toronto Argonauts for quarterback Steven Jyles, kicker Grant Shaw, and a first-round pick, Austin Pasztor a current starting Tackle with the Jacksonville Jaguars . The move would be criticized as Jyles struggled at quarterback for the Eskimos while Ray led the Argonuats to victory in the 100th Grey Cup.

In 2012, the Eskimos finished fourth in West, with a 7-11 record. The team struggled offensively throughout the season and started three quarterbacks Jyles, Kerry Joseph, and Matt Nichols. Edmonton lost its final three games, but was able to make the playoffs due to the crossover rule. On November 3, 2012, eight days before the Eskimos playoff game against the Toronto Argonauts, Eskimos president Len Rhodes announced that Tillman had been fired. Rhodes stated that there "no specific reason" as to why Tillman was fired.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Two months after his dismissal, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hired Tillman as a consultant. His position is described by head coach/general manager Kent Austin as being a "sounding board" for Austin.Under the direction of long time Tillman friend, Kent Austin, the Ticats, who had finished with the CFL's worst record in 2012, won 10 regular season games in 2013, two playoff contests, and advanced to the 101st Grey Cup, before losing to Saskatchewan.

CFL GM record

References

1. "'This has become home for us': Tillman". The Leader-Post. July 16, 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
2. ^ "Tillman is fan friendly". www.canada.com. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
3. ^ "Tillman's future in CFL in doubt". CBC. January 5, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
4. Murray McCormick (January 5, 2010). "Tillman stands behind Saskatchewan Roughriders' code of conduct". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
5. ^ "Edmonton Eskimos fire GM Eric Tillman". The Toronto Star. November 3, 2012. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
6. ^ Davis, Darrell (November 24, 2007). "Riders GM Eric Tillman". Leader-Post. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
7. http://www.seniorbowl.com/game-history-1990s.php
8. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/eric-tillman-hired-as-consultant-by-tiger-cats-1.1302935
9. ^ "Tillman Back With Argos". The Daily Gleaner. February 4, 1999.
10. Murray, Ken (April 15, 1995). "Posse dispersal draft is set". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
11. "Transactions". The New York Times. November 14, 1995. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
12. "Tillman to tackle tasks with TSN". The Province. March 12, 1998.
13. York, Marty (May 9, 2000). "Former Argo GM drives hard bargain to collect his pay". The Globe and Mail.
14. "TSN adds body, stripe to its CFL broadcasts". The Toronto Star. July 4, 2000.
15. "A timeline of the various troubles for Ottawa's CFL teams since '69". The Ottawa Citzen. March 26, 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
16. "Tillman to join Sportsnet". Calgary Herald. April 30, 2005.
17. ^ "Eric Tillman resigns as Roughriders GM". CTV News. Bell Media. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
18. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/teams/navigation/
19. McCormick, Murray (January 8, 2010). "Tillman's tenure produced results". The Star Phoenix. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
20. Ralph, Dan (September 13, 2010). "Struggling Eskimos looking to Eric Tillman to help rebuild". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
21. ^ Simmons, Steve (November 22, 2013). "Grey Cup 2013: Former Roughriders GM Eric Tillman returns to old stamping grounds". Toronto Sun. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
22. The Canadian Press (January 9, 2010). "Roughriders GM Eric Tillman resigns after pleading guilty to sexual assault". The Truro Daily News. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
23. CBC: Roughriders' GM charged with sexual assault 3 February 2009
24. Jana G. Pruden; Murray McCormick (January 5, 2010). "Tearful Roughriders GM Eric Tillman gets absolute discharge for sex assault". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
25. "CFL GM pleads guilty to sexual assault". The Toronto Star. January 4, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
26. "Tillman Named New General Manager of Floundering Eskimos". TSN.ca. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
27. Graham, Jennifer (Jaunary 5, 2010). "CFL GM granted absolute discharge in sex assault case". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 13, 2014. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
28. "Tillman gets absolute discharge in sex assault case". CTV.ca. Bell Media. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
29. "Tillman named new general manager of floundering Eskimos". TSN.ca. Bell Media. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
30. http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400642/hays-carlyon/2014-01-09/jaguars-gm-dave-caldwell-likes-austin-pasztor-starting
31. Moddejonge, Gerry (July 11, 2013). "Losing Ricky Ray was a blow to the Edmonton Eskimos offence, but an even bigger loss may have been defensive co-ordinator Rich Stubler". Toronto Sun. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
32. O'Leary, Chris (November 3, 2012). "Edmonton Eskimos vague on reasons for firing GM Tillman". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
33. The Canadian Press. "Eric Tillman hired as consultant by Tiger-Cats". CBC Sports. CBC. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
34. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?id=108929

Template:Persondata

1. "2024 CFL Guide" (PDF). Canadian Football League. p. 179. Retrieved July 11, 2024.

• 1957 births
• Living people
• BC Lions general managers
• Canadian Football League announcers
• Canadian sex offenders
• Edmonton Eskimos general managers
• Grey Cup champions
• Hamilton Tiger-Cats personnel
• Montreal Alouettes personnel
• Ottawa Renegades personnel
• Saskatchewan Roughriders general managers
• Sportspeople from Jackson, Mississippi
• Toronto Argonauts general managers