Eric Tillman

Under Tillman, the Lions posted a 31–22–1 record and upset the Baltimore Stallions in the 82nd Grey Cup.

The Lions success came in spite of regular fighting between head coach Dave Ritchie and owner Bill Comrie and a lack of team harmony.

Eric Tillman (born July 24, 1957) is an American-born Canadian football executive who is the vice president of football operations for the Atlantic Schooners.

Tillman began his career as a football executive in 1981 as a member of the Houston Oilers' public relations department.

The following year, he received his first job in the CFL when he became the player personnel director of the Montreal Concordes.

From 1984 to 1993, Tillman served as executive director of the Senior Bowl, a game sponsored by National Football League designed to showcase top players graduating from United States colleges.

Tillman took over a team that went 3–15 in 1992.

He was previously the general manager of the BC Lions (1993–94), Toronto Argonauts (1997, 1999), Ottawa Renegades (2002–04), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2006–2010), Edmonton Eskimos (2010–2012), and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2016–2018).

From 1993 to 1995, Tillman was the general manager of the BC Lions.

As a general manager, Tillman has won the Grey Cup three times (1994, 1997, and 2007).

In 1995, Norton Herrick, a real estate developer from Orlando, Florida, announced plans to move the CFL's Las Vegas Posse to Tillman's hometown of Jackson, Mississippi.

Tillman was to be the club's general manager, however plans fell through and the relocation did not take place and Tillman remained with BC.

In November 1995, the World League of American Football named Tillman its director of football operations.

Tillman, however preferred overseeing a single team so in 1997 he returned to the CFL as general manager of the Toronto Argonauts.

That year, the Argonauts won the Grey Cup.

However, Tillman and head coach Don Matthews had a tumultuous relationship.

In addition to his career as an executive, Tillman has also worked as a CFL analyst for TSN, the CBC, and Rogers Sportsnet in 1998, 2000, and 2005.

On March 1, 1998, Tillman officially departed the Argonauts.

He then joined TSN as a football analyst.

In 1999, Matthews left the Argonauts to become head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos and, after Wally Buono turned down an offer to become head coach and general manager, the Argos asked Tillman to return as GM.

When the team was purchased by New York businessman Sherwood Schwarz after the 1999 season, Tillman was fired and replaced by Schwarz's cousin, J. I. Albrecht.

After his dismissal, Tillman returned to TSN.

On October 23, 2001, Tillman was named the first general manager of the expansion Ottawa Renegades.

Ottawa won four games their inaugural season and seven games the following year.

In 2004, the Renegades gave head coach Joe Paopao the title of director of football operations.

Although Tillman was still technically general manager, Paopao was effectively general manager.

After leaving Ottawa, Tillman served as an analyst for the CBC and Rogers Sportsnet.

Part way through the 2006 CFL season, Tillman was hired as the Roughriders general manager after they fired long time GM Roy Shivers.

He took over a team that had a tarnished reputation in the community after several players had run-ins with the law, including former linebacker Trevis Smith, who had been charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault after he knowingly exposed two women to HIV without telling them.

Tillman promised to clean up the team's image and the Roughriders adopted a code of conduct which required players to obey the law, act with honesty and integrity, respect others, and take responsibility for their actions.

During Tillman's three years with the team they hosted three consecutive home playoff games and played in two Grey Cups.

In 2007, the Roughriders won their third ever Grey Cup.

Among the key signings made by Tillman were head coach Kent Austin, defensive end Stevie Baggs, receivers Weston Dressler and Rob Bagg, defensive back Omarr Morgan, and running back Corey Holmes.

In July 2008, Tillman was given a contract extension through 2010.

On August 6, 2008, Tillman was sent home from a team board meeting because he was acting strangely.

After he arrived home, Tillman put his hands on the hips of his children's sixteen-year-old babysitter.

Tillman's attorney would state that Tillman was not thinking clearly because he had taken a double dose of sleep aids and pain medication for a sore back and that he did not remember what happened.

On January 27, 2009, Tillman was charged with summary sexual assault.

He was placed on paid administrative leave by the Roughriders on February 2, 2009.

He also acquired many key players who would be part of the Roughriders 2013 championship season, including Darian Durant, Chris Getzlaf, and John Chick.