The complete version of article below can be found here. The image used about halfway was copied from Tillery's Instagram account and uncredited.
Blitzing off the left edge, JoJo Tillery refused to be stopped as he sealed a second straight United States Football League championship for the Birmingham Stallions.
The football, held in the hands of Pittsburgh Maulers quarterback Troy Williams, reflected off Tillery's gold-plated visor before he swatted it loose for teammate Willie Yarbary to fall on top of with just more than two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Tillery's strip-sack from behind was the closing highlight of his big night in the Stallions' 28-12 victory in the USFL title game on July 1 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound safety, a former East Ridge High School star, finished with a game-high 10 tackles and helped limit Pittsburgh to 202 total yards and zero touchdowns.
"I am a big-time trash talker," said Tillery, who also played basketball for the Pioneers during his prep days. "Last year they even deemed me the best trash talker in the league. Pittsburgh's quarterback, the first time I missed him, said something to me. I told him to not worry and that I'd be back.
"The second time, the running back and left tackle doubled me, and I was like, you got lucky this time. On that last one, I just knew I had to beat the tackle. I saw the ball was loose in his hand and had to go after it. I wanted to make sure I made a play for my team to secure the victory."
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For the second straight year, Tillery ended the season with a championship-sealing play. In 2022, he batted away the final pass on fourth-and-12 in Birmingham's 33-30 win over the Philadelphia Stars, and he also punched a potential touchdown catch out of the hands of a receiver in the back right corner of the end zone earlier in that game.
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"You can ask anybody on the defense, and they will tell you I am the emotional leader," Tillery said. "Coach (Skip) Holtz looked to me to bring the energy every week. I missed the first five games of this season because I had a fractured ankle. It was hard for me to sit on the sidelines, but one thing I made sure of was to keep my teammates encouraged and keep them up."
"When I came back, though, you could tell it was sort of a different team. Our energy was more upbeat. Our sideline was more into it, and so was the crowd. I think my teammates look for me to be like an Energizer Bunny and bring life to the team."
Without Tillery, the Stallions lost two games in a three-game span and allowed 45 points in a home loss to the New Orleans Breakers. Birmingham was down seven starters, including key leaders such as Bo Scarbrough and Tillery, after the first week of the season.
When he returned, Tillery's backflip after wins was a warm sight for the Stallions.
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Tillery turned 26 on June 22, and he still dreams of receiving a phone call from an NFL team again.
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Yet even as he hopes for the NFL, he is thankful for the USFL, the Stallions and the opportunity to play pro football.
"We worked for 17 straight weeks without a bye week, so to celebrate another championship with this group is so special," Tillery said. "All of our hard work paid off in the end. We play to win. Hopefully through my football career I can inspire kids and be a role model for some to look up to.
"My plan after my playing career is over is to pass along my knowledge and help those who love the game like I do make it as far as they can. I love the game of football and couldn't imagine myself not being involved in the game somehow."
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