Live from Liverpool: Postcards with Charles "Peanut" Tillman | Tuesday, June 23
As told to Gabby Hajduk
Former Bears cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman is in Liverpool for the Bears' 2026 UK summer tour. Check out Tillman's postcard to learn about his experience at the Chicago Bears Flag Football Clinics, hear why he believes football is growing overseas and find out why he's a fan of current cornerback Josh Blackwell.
What's up everyone,
It's Peanut here and we're on our final day of this year's UK summer tour. I believe this is the third or fourth year I've come across the pond with the Bears and it really never gets old.
For one, I just like England. And two, I like helping out at the youth flag football football clinics. When I started doing this, I would ask the kids how many of them have played American football before and really no one raised their hand. Now when I ask, three-fourths of the kids have already played American football in some way, shape or form. I think that's growth. To me, that's a sign that, whether we're in the London area, Manchester, Liverpool, Loughborough, Birmingham, no matter where we are, more and more kids, when I ask that question, their hands go up. So, we're growing the game here.
We had two days of clinics here in Liverpool and I really had fun interacting with the kids and making sure they enjoyed the day. I enjoy teaching the game of American football to the kids here. I never know what questions I'm gonna get, but yet, I never know how I might inspire them.
Actually, today, the kids didn't know it, but I was lying down on the football as a pillow, and they kind of crowded me, and it was a hot day. They were blocking the sun, and I just did a little makeshift Q-and-A. I had some little worker bees blocking the sun for me. So I appreciated that. I made them little jokers get out there while I just laid there and they just asked me questions.
Seriously though, I enjoy going back and forth with them. I like to make this experience a little bit more personal for the kids, so they can go home and say, "Hey mom, hey dad, I talked to this former NFL player, and I learned this." Who's to say that that young child might not take that conversation and say, "Hey, I can actually play in the Olympics because this particular player told me this." You just never know the impact you can have on these kids. I hope they can take something away from me or Josh (Blackwell) or the coaches.
One of the best parts of these trips is just the camaraderie we get to build with everyone who's here. Fellowshipping with everyone, I think that's always fun, because you get to know people in a different way outside of the building. You get to see them or know them a little bit more casually. For me, that included Josh on this trip. Before this week, I didn't know a ton about him off the field, but I've actually gotten a chance to really talk to him and pick his brain and just know him.
I think he's a really smart person and player. And now that I do know him a little bit more, I'm even more excited to see what he can do this upcoming season. He's got a fan in me for sure.
We're just about done with this year's trip and I've had a great time as I always do. It's always great to have these opportunities to partner with the Bears and really strengthen the relationship between the UK and American football. I'm just grateful to keep coming back here and helping teach this game.
