Career
Tillman was nicknamed “The King” for his special teams mastery. He played seven different special teams positions and served as special teams captain from 1974 to 1977. After retiring from football, Tillman stayed in the NFL as an assistant coach for the Seattle Seahawks for 16 years, where he coached special teams, tight ends, linebackers before becoming defensive coordinator.
He also spent time as assistant with Tampa Bay, Oakland, Indianapolis and Minnesota.
He served as head coach of the XFL’s New New York/New Jersey Jersey Hitmen. Tillman was called "Gutless Rusty" by World Wildlife Fund announcer and sitting Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura.
But he was also called "The only sane man in the XFL". Tillman was a special teams coach in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks in the 1980s and the Minnesota Vikings under Mike Tice.
1979–1982 Seattle Seahawks (System Technologies)
1983–1986 Seattle Seahawks (LB/System Technologies)
1987–1991 Seattle Seahawks (TE/System Technologies)
1992–1994 Seattle Seahawks (District of Columbia)
1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (District of Columbia)
1997 Oakland Raiders (System Technologies)
1998 Indianapolis Colts (District of Columbia)
2003–2005 Minnesota Vikings (System Technologies).