Tony Pollard

Tony Pollard was born on April 30, 1997, in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended Melrose High School, where he excelled as a two-way starter in high school football, playing both wide receiver and cornerback. During his senior year, he achieved over 1,200 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns, earning him All-District 16-AAA honors. Pollard then accepted a football scholarship to the University of Memphis, starting his collegiate career as a wide receiver. He redshirted his freshman year. In the 2016 season, Pollard played in 13 games, starting seven, recording 29 receptions for 298 yards and 31 carries for 159 yards with three touchdowns. He was recognized as the American Athletic Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year, with significant contributions in kickoff returns, averaging 28.1 yards per return and scoring two touchdowns. His success continued in 2017, leading the nation in kickoff return average with 40 yards per return and four touchdowns, again earning him the AAC’s Special Teams Player of the Year award. In his junior year (2018), Pollard shared the backfield and accumulated 552 rushing yards on 78 carries, 458 receiving yards on 39 receptions, and a total of ten touchdowns, including a kickoff return for a touchdown. He tied an FBS record with seven career kick-return touchdowns and accumulated 4,680 all-purpose yards.

Pollard declared for the NFL Draft on January 11, 2019, and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (128th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. In his rookie 2019 season, he recorded 455 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 86 carries, along with 107 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. Notable performances included a 103-yard rushing game against the Miami Dolphins and a 131-yard rushing game with a 44-yard touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams. The 2020 season saw Pollard continue his role, contributing 435 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, and 193 receiving yards with one receiving touchdown. In 2021, he accumulated 719 rushing yards and two touchdowns, adding 337 receiving yards. His breakout year came in 2022, where he recorded his first 1,000-yard rushing season with 1,007 yards and nine rushing touchdowns, alongside 371 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. He earned a Pro Bowl selection that year and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 11. In 2023, the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Pollard, and he ended the season with 1,005 rushing yards and six touchdowns. On March 14, 2024, Pollard signed a three-year deal with the Tennessee Titans, becoming their starting running back. In his 2024 season with the Titans, he achieved a career-high 1,079 rushing yards, along with five touchdowns.