J.J. Watt to honor Pat Tillman as starter for 2023 Pat's Run on April 15

J.J. Watt showed a lot of respect for former Arizona Cardinals and Arizona State legend Pat Tillman during his playing career.

Watt's NFL career may be over, but he's still finding ways to honor Tillman, who was killed serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.

Watt will serve as the starter for the 19th annual Pat's Run race honoring Tillman and benefitting the Pat Tillman Foundation on April 15, 2023, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.

Watt announced the news in a YouTube video from the Pat Tillman Foundation on Tuesday, saying he was "excited" for the opportunity and then joking about whether he had to run in the event.

As for Watt's duties as the starter, he said: "I think I will be saying ready-set-go and then watching you guys work extremely hard and run. I don't think I have to run myself. I should probably check on that actually. Not ready. Not ready. I haven't run since the season ended so, I am actually going to check on that right now. You go to PatsRun.org. Sign up. I'm going to go make sure I don't need to start training."

More:Pat Tillman Arizona Cardinals jersey from Afghanistan returns home to Arizona

The 4.2 mile run benefitting the Pat Tillman Foundation's Tillman Scholars Program is back in person in Tempe on April 15 this year, but people can also sign up to participate in a virtual run.

Children 12 and under can sign up for the 0.42 mile Kids Run.

Funds from Pat's Run help the foundation unite and empower our community of more than 800 Tillman Scholars, remarkable veterans and military spouses who carry on Pat's commitment to service beyond self and embody his values of service, scholarship, humble leadership and impact.

More:Arizona State football spring game to be held after Pat's Run

The course will finish at the 42-yard line at Sun Devil Stadium.

Participants in the run, which begins at 7 a.m. on April 15, will receive a limited edition Sport-Tek race shirt and the first in a three-medal series.

The cost for the run is $49 through Feb. 28. The Kids Run is $15 up until the event.

Visit pattillmanfoundation.org/pats-run/ for more information and to register.

The 2023 Arizona State football spring game will be held after Pat's Run at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.

Watt, who recently retired from the NFL, honored Tillman on the flight to his last game against the San Francisco 49ers last month.

The team stayed in Tillman's hometown area of San Jose.

More:Pat Tillman honored with Super Bowl 57 coin toss: 'We're so proud'

Watt and Reebok also introduced a new training shoe in honor of Tillman after he had agreed to a deal with the Cardinals in 2021.

“Pat Tillman lived his life in service of a purpose bigger than himself,” Watt said in a statement at the time. “That is his true legacy. The shoe is a small way to pay tribute to a legendary man, by not only honoring him, but also donating to the foundation established in his name and ensuring that his legacy lives on. It has been an absolute privilege to work hand in hand with Pat’s wife, Marie Tillman, and CEO of the Pat Tillman Foundation, Dan Futrell, to ensure that this shoe properly and appropriately represents and honors Pat in a way that he would be proud of.”

Tillman was recently honored at the Super Bowl 57 coin toss before the Kansas City Chiefs played the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in Glendale and Watt surprised the honorary captains for the game, who were from the Pat Tillman Foundation Tillman Scholar's program, with their selections.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: J.J. Watt to honor Pat Tillman as starter for 2023 Pat's Run in Tempe