David Pollack

Last updated

David Pollack
David Pollack - 2018 SEC Summerfest (cropped).jpg
Pollack in 2018
No. 99
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1982-06-19) June 19, 1982 (age 41)
New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school: Shiloh (Snellville, Georgia)
College: Georgia (2001–2004)
NFL draft: 2005  / Round: 1 / Pick: 17
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:29
Sacks:4.5
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at PFR

David M. Pollack (born June 19, 1982) is an American college football analyst and former player who was a linebacker two seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Georgia, was a three-time All-American, and was recognized as the top college defensive player in the nation. Pollack had 36 sacks during his collegiate career, third most in NCAA history. He was a first-round pick in the 2005 NFL draft, and played professionally for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals. [1] He suffered a career-ending neck injury in the second game of his second season with the Bengals. From 2011 to 2023, he was a college football analyst for ESPN.

Contents

Early life

Pollack was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He attended Shiloh High School in Snellville, Georgia, and was a star in football, basketball and wrestling. In football, as a senior, he was a Class 5A all-state selection and the Atlanta Touchdown Club named him the Defensive Lineman of the Year.

College career

Pollack attended the University of Georgia, where he played for coach Mark Richt's Georgia Bulldogs football team from 2001 to 2004 and was a roommate of future NFL quarterback David Greene.

For three consecutive seasons, he was recognized as a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection and a first-team All-American (2002, 2003, 2004)—twice as an NCAA consensus first-team honoree, having received the first-team selections of a majority of All-America selector organizations in 2002 and 2004. [2] He is only the second player in Bulldogs team history to earn first-team All-American honors in three seasons, following Heisman Trophy-winner Herschel Walker. In addition to his All-American accolades, Pollack received the following:

His signature play came during the second game of the 2002 season. Pollack batted down a pass from South Carolina quarterback Corey Jenkins in the South Carolina end zone and managed to catch the ball in the end zone before it hit the ground; Pollack was credited with a 0-yard interception return for a touchdown. Pollack finished his college career with 36 sacks, a Georgia career record, and ranks third in NCAA history.[ citation needed ]

He graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor's degree in history.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2 in
(1.88 m)		265 lb
(120 kg)		4.75 s1.67 s2.71 s3.94 s6.87 s37 in
(0.94 m)		10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)		25 reps
All values from NFL Combine. [3]

In his rookie season of 2005, Pollack was a reserve until the Bengals' sixth game, when he became a starter at linebacker. He missed two games due to a sprained knee. However, he still ranked second on the team with 4.5 sacks on the season, [4] and posted 22 tackles and six assists for a total of 28. [4]

In his second NFL season, 2006, he started the Bengals' first game. On September 17, 2006, in game against in-state rival Cleveland Browns, Pollack suffered what was later determined to be a broken sixth cervical vertebrae during a tackle in the first quarter. He reportedly suffered no paralysis, but was taken off the field on a stretcher and underwent surgery to fuse two vertebrae, and was required to wear a halo brace for three months. Pollack's injury was determined to be a possible career-ending one. However, on January 7, 2007, ESPN reported that Pollack would be able to resume his career as long as the rehabilitation process went as planned. On July 11, 2007, it was announced that Pollack would not play at all during the 2007 season as his recovery continued. [5]

On April 22, 2008, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis announced that Pollack was "not completely comfortable where he [was] medically" and that he would retire. [6]

Post-football career

Pollack with Rece Davis and Nick Saban prior to the 2023 National Championship game 2023-0109-CFPtitlegame Rece Davis David Pollack Nick Saban.jpg
Pollack with Rece Davis and Nick Saban prior to the 2023 National Championship game

Pollack's new company, FanBan, manufactures sports banners that feature sports photographs and college football team logos. FanBan events have raised $4,321 for the YMCA scholarships that help underprivileged kids participate in YMCA programs as of February 10, 2008. [7]

On September 9, 2008, Pollack began a new career as an afternoon sports talk host on Atlanta's 790 The Zone. Also in 2008, Pollack began studio work for CBS's college football coverage. In 2009, Pollack joined ESPN as a college football analyst. [8]

In fall 2011, he became part of ESPN's College GameDay and a host on the Palmer and Pollack show.

In summer 2012, it was announced that Pollack would join Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer, and Samantha Ponder on ESPN's Thursday Night Football, replacing Craig James. [9]

In October 2013, he received harsh criticism for his public comments that women should not be allowed to serve on the College Football Playoff selection committee because they had not played the game. [10]

On March 11, 2020, Pollack was announced as one of the newest members of the College Football Hall of Fame. He was announced live on air by his College Gameday colleague, Rece Davis.

On June 30, 2023, Pollack was laid off by ESPN. [11] [12]

Personal life

Pollack is a Christian. [13] Pollack is married with one son and one daughter. [14]

David and Lindsey Pollack created The Pollack Family Foundation, an organization with a vision of “… a nation of healthy families” and a mission to “… educate individuals, families and communities on the benefits of nutrition and exercise, and provide them opportunities to embrace healthy living through eating well and physical activity.“ [15]

Related Research Articles

Corey James Dillon is an American former professional American football player who was a running back for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots. Dillon played college football for the Washington Huskies and was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Palmer</span> Canadian player of American football

Jesse James Palmer is a Canadian television personality, sports commentator, and former professional football player who was a quarterback for five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) in the early 2000s. Palmer played college football for the Florida Gators under coach Steve Spurrier, and thereafter, he played professionally for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers in the NFL before spending half of the 2006 season with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Carr (American football)</span> American football player (born 1979)

David Duke Carr is an American former football quarterback who played 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs and was selected first overall by the Houston Texans in the 2002 NFL Draft. Carr also played for the Carolina Panthers, the New York Giants, and the San Francisco 49ers. With the Giants, Carr was a member of the team that won Super Bowl XLVI. He currently serves as the offensive coordinator at Bakersfield Christian High School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirk Herbstreit</span> American football player and analyst

Kirk Edward Herbstreit is an American sportscaster and former college football player. He serves as an analyst for ESPN's College GameDay, a television program covering college football, and provides color commentary on college football games on ESPN and ABC and Thursday night NFL games on Prime Video. For his TV work, Herbstreit has won five Sports Emmy Awards in various categories. He appeared annually as a commentator in EA Sports' NCAA Football video game until the series was put on hiatus following NCAA Football 14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Couch</span> American football player (born 1977)

Timothy Scott Couch is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats, where he set the Southeastern Conference record for single-season passing yards and won the Quarterback of the Year as a junior. Selected first overall by the Browns in the 1999 NFL Draft, Couch was the franchise's first draft pick following their reactivation as an expansion team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cris Collinsworth</span> American sports broadcaster (born 1959)

Anthony Cris Collinsworth is an American former football player and sports broadcaster. Collinsworth was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons (1981–1988), all with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at the University of Florida, where he was recognized as an All-American. He is a television sportscaster for NBC, Showtime, and the NFL Network, and winner of 17 Sports Emmy Awards. He is also the majority owner of Pro Football Focus.

<i>College GameDay</i> (football TV program) American television program

College GameDay is a pre-game show broadcast by ESPN as part of the network's coverage of college football, broadcast on Saturday mornings during the college football season. In its current form, the program is typically broadcast from the campus of the team hosting a featured game being played that day and features news and analysis of the day's upcoming games.

Todd Alan Blackledge is a former American football quarterback in both the NCAA and National Football League (NFL). In college, he led the Penn State Nittany Lions to a national championship. A member of the famed Class of 1983, he played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers and is largely considered a draft bust. Blackledge is a college football television broadcaster, working for ABC Sports from 1994 through 1998, for CBS Sports from 1999 to 2005, ESPN from 2006 through January 2023, and NBC since February 2023.

Keiwan Jevar Ratliff is an American former football cornerback who played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the 2000s. He played college football for the University of Florida, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL) in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL.

Michael Francis Mayock Sr. is a former American football executive and player in the National Football League (NFL). He played as a safety with the New York Giants. After his playing career, he was a draft analyst for the NFL Network, and a game analyst for NBC's coverage of Notre Dame football. He served as the general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders from 2019 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Whitworth</span> American football player (born 1981)

Andrew James Whitworth is an American former football tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He spent 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and five with the Los Angeles Rams. Noted for the longevity of his career, he retired as the oldest tackle in NFL history and was the oldest offensive lineman to win a Super Bowl.

David Ryan Klingler is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for six years in the National Football League (NFL) and current Associate Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary. He played college football for the Houston Cougars, earning third-team All-American honors in 1990. Klingler was selected in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, but his career was cut short by an elbow injury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Kanell</span> American football player and media personality (born 1973)

Daniel Kanell is an American sports broadcaster and former professional football player who is employed by CBS Sports and SiriusXM as an on-air personality. He played as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). Kanell played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, earning second-team All-American honors in 1995. He also played in the Arena Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. J. Green</span> American football player (born 1988)

Adriel Jeremiah Green is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons, primarily with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, earning All-American honors. Green was selected by the Bengals with the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, where he spent 10 seasons prior to joining the Arizona Cardinals for two years. In 2023, Green signed a one day deal with the Bengals, and officially retired a member of the Cincinnati organization.

Thomas Brown is an American football coach and former running back who is the passing game coordinator for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarvis Jones</span> American football player (born 1989)

Jarvis Jerrell Jones is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, and was recognized as a consensus All-American twice. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft, playing for them for four seasons before retiring following a short stint with the Arizona Cardinals in 2017.

<i>NCAA Football 14</i> 2014 football video game

NCAA Football 14 is an American football video game published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. Part of the NCAA Football series, it is the successor to NCAA Football 13. Despite the game's positive critical and commercial reception, no sequel was produced the following year. Due to legal issues surrounding the game's use of college player likenesses, NCAA Football 14 was the last installment of the NCAA Football series until EA Sports College Football 25. As the most recent entry in the dormant series, the game continues to be played, with unofficial roster updates being released reflecting subsequent seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Taylor (sportscaster)</span> American sportscaster

Suzette Maria Taylor is an American sportscaster for NBC Sports. She has worked for ESPN and the SEC Network. She has covered college football, college volleyball, National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), and men's and women's college basketball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Brown</span> American football player (born 1993)

Trenton Jacoby "Trent" Brown is an American football offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia Military College and Florida and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL draft. Brown has also played for the Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders and the New England Patriots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vonn Bell</span> American football player (born 1994)

Vonn Christian Bell is an American football safety for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

References

  1. ↑ "2005 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  2. ↑ "2011 NCAA Football Records - Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. p. 11. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  3. ↑ "David Pollack, DS #1 DE, Georgia". nfldraftscout.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Surgery could end career of Bengals LB Pollack". ESPN.com. December 14, 2006. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  5. ↑ Hobson, Geoff (July 10, 2007). "Thurman still waiting; Pollack out for '07". bengals.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  6. ↑ Curnutte, Mark (April 22, 2008). "Pollack expected to retire". cincinnati.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Former Dogs boost YMCA scholarships". onlineathens.com. February 9, 2008. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  8. ↑ "David Pollack".
  9. ↑ Hiestand, Michael (June 26, 2012). "ESPN drafts Pollack to replace James on Thursday games". usatoday.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  10. ↑ Schwartz, Nick (October 5, 2013). "ESPN analyst says women should not be a part of the College Football Playoff selection committee". usatoday.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  11. ↑ "David Pollack, prominent College GameDay host, learns future amid ESPN layoffs". Saturday Down South. June 30, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  12. ↑ "ESPN cutting around 20 on-air stars in dramatic layoffs". June 30, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  13. ↑ Pease, Joshua (August 20, 2019). "ESPN's David Pollack brings both brashness and belief to broadcasting role". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Meet David" . Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  15. ↑ "The Pollack Family Foundation" . Retrieved September 5, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.