July 2, 2004 2:51 PM

LOS ANGELES - Tom Cruise will introduce a tribute to late football star Pat Tillman during the 12th annual ESPY Awards, which recognize achievement in sports.

Tillman left a $3.6 million contract as an Arizona Cardinals safety to join the Army and was killed in Afghanistan on April 22. He was 27.

"I am honored to take part in remembering and celebrating the life of Pat Tillman, someone whose courage and integrity I respect and admire," Cruise said in a statement Thursday.

The tribute will be part of the awards ceremony to be taped July 14 at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre. The show, hosted by actor-comedian Jamie Foxx, will air July 18 on ESPN.

During last year's ceremonies, Tillman and his brother, Kevin, were recipients of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. This year's recipient will be soccer star George Weah, who has worked in his war-torn homeland of Liberia to reintegrate former child soldiers into their communities.