Pollard began his football career at Brown University, where he was a star running back and defensive back. He was an All-American in 1916 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. After college, he played professionally in the Ohio League, a precursor to the NFL, for the Akron Pros, the Canton Bulldogs, and the Hammond Pros.
Pollard was a pioneer in the NFL, becoming the first African American head coach in the league in 1921. He also was the first African American to play in a Rose Bowl game, when he led the Pros to the championship in 1923. He was also the first African American to be named an All-Pro player in 1923.
Pollard was an innovator on the field, introducing the single-wing formation and the man-in-motion. He was also an advocate for racial equality in the NFL, and he was a founding member of the American Professional Football Association, which later became the NFL.
Pollard's career ended in 1925 due to a knee injury, but he remained involved in the sport as a coach and administrator. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Pollard was a trailblazer in the early days of professional football, and his legacy lives on in the NFL today. He was a great player, coach, and advocate for racial equality in the sport, and his contributions are still felt today.
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