US mourns fallen football player

Fans sign flocked to a memorial after the death was announced

A former professional American football player who gave up a glittering career to join the US army has been killed in south-east Afghanistan.

Pat Tillman had been offered a $3.6m (£2m) contract to play for the American football team, the Arizona Cardinals.

But, six months after the 11 September 2001 attacks, he enlisted in the army for an annual salary of $18,000.

Tillman was killed in a gunfight in Khost province, south of Kabul, where US forces are hunting Osama Bin Laden.

The 27-year-old football star made the decision to join the army after returning from his honeymoon with his wife, Marie.

His brother Kevin - a former professional baseball player with the Cleveland Indians - also signed up.

All-American hero

Since news of the football star's death on Thursday, tributes have been flooding in from the NFL community and beyond.

There are very few people who have the courage to do what he did, the courage to walk away from a professional sports career and make the ultimate sacrifice Cardinals Vice President Michael Bidwill Football star turned soldier

The White House praised him as "an inspiration both on and off the football field".

"His family is in the thoughts and prayers of President and Mrs Bush," said a White House spokesman.

Senior Senator John McCain, who represents Arizona, said the death "will seem a heavy blow to our nation's morale".

"Many American families have suffered the same terrible sacrifice that Pat's family must now bear," he said.

"He is a hero," Cardinals Vice President Michael Bidwill said.

"He was a brave man. There are very few people who have the courage to do what he did, the courage to walk away from a professional sports career and make the ultimate sacrifice."

Since enlisting, Pat Tillman has stayed out of the media spotlight, refusing give interviews since leaving the Cardinals.