Welcome to the latest installment of my weekly "Lunch with Larry," which features wide-ranging conversations with Bears-related guests about their lives and careers.
This week my special guest is former cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman, a 2003 second-round pick who played 12 illustrious seasons with the Bears. Tillman remains the franchise's all-time leader with nine defensive touchdowns, eight interception return TDs and 675 interception return yards. His 36 interceptions are the most by a cornerback in team history and third most overall behind safeties Gary Fencik (28) and Richie Petitbon (37).
Every week I will select the best "Lunch with Larry" fan question, with the winner receiving a Connie's Pizza gift card. The question of the week can be found at the bottom of this article.
Peanut turned forcing fumbles into an art form by smacking the ball away from opponents, a technique dubbed the "Peanut Punch." He forced 42 fumbles with the Bears, including a career-high 10 in 2012 when he was voted to his second straight Pro Bowl. The origin of the Peanut Punch dates back to when he was a freshman at Louisiana-Lafayette when a coach urged him to attack the ball.
Peanut never dreamed that the "Peanut Punch" would become such a popular well-known term in all levels of the sport from youth football to the NFL. He began doing it simply as part of then-Bears coach Lovie Smith's philosophy that generating takeaways translates to winning football.
The nickname Peanut was bestowed upon him by an aunt because he was so little as a baby. Throughout his life, his family has always called him Peanut—except when his father called him Charles when he got into trouble as a kid.
Peanut took pride playing on special teams and blocking for Hall of Famer Devin Hester, often escorting the NFL's most prolific return specialist to the end zone. Peanut was also honored to play for special teams coordinator Dave Toub.
The fan question of the week and winner of a Connie's Pizza gift card comes from William F., who asks: What is your happiest/most memorable moment volunteering in Chicago?
Tillman's answer: "My happiest memory of volunteering is going to hospitals and talking to families—not giving out gifts or signing autographs but hearing their stories. You're catching people at the worst time of their life when they have a sick child and you're connecting with them. You're just having a conversation with them and trying to bring some normalcy to their lives. The other day I visited a couple kids in a hospital. I played Nintendo with an 8-year-old, and for that brief time he forgot about his sickness. Those are the moments why you do it, why you give back."
I'd like to thank Peanut for joining me on this week's "Lunch with Larry." He's one of the greatest players I've ever covered and one of the funniest people I've ever met. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute I've spent with him over the last 20-plus years and am looking forward to continuing our friendship.
