David Pollack

This article is about the former American football player. For the politician, seeDavid Pollack (politician).For people named David Pollock, seeDavid Pollock (disambiguation).

David Pollack

Pollack in 2018
No. 99
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1982-06-19)June 19, 1982 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
Cincinnati Bengals(2005–2007)
Career highlights and awards
Chuck Bednarik Award(2004) Lott Trophy(2004) Lombardi Award(2004) 2×Ted Hendricks Award(2003, 2004) 2× ConsensusAll-American(2002,2004) First-team All-American (2003) 2×SEC Defensive Player of the Year(2002, 2004) 3× First-teamAll-SEC(2002,2003,2004) 2005 Outback BowlMVP Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 29 Sacks: 4.5 Fumble recoveries: 1
Player stats atPFR
College Football Hall of Fame

David M. Pollack(born June 19, 1982) is an Americancollege footballanalyst and former player who was alinebackertwo seasons in theNational Football League(NFL). He playedcollege footballfor theUniversity of Georgia,was a three-timeAll-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 the2005 NFL draft,and played professionally for the NFL'sCincinnati Bengals.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 forESPN.

Early life

Pollack was born inNew Brunswick, New Jersey.He attendedShiloh High SchoolinSnellville, Georgia,and was a star in football,basketballandwrestling.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 coachMark Richt'sGeorgia Bulldogs footballteam from 2001 to 2004 and was a roommate of future NFLquarterbackDavid Greene.

For three consecutive seasons, he was recognized as a first-teamAll-Southeastern Conference(SEC) selection and a first-teamAll-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.He is only the second player in Bulldogs team history to earn first-team All-American honors in three seasons, following Heisman Trophy-winnerHerschel Walker.In addition to his All-American accolades, Pollack received the following:

• SEC Player of the Year Award (2002, 2004)
• SEC Defensive Player of the Year Award (2004)
• Chuck Bednarik Award(2004)
• Ted Hendricks Award(2003, 2004)
• Lombardi Award(2004)
• Lott Trophy(2004)

His signature play came during the second game of the 2002 season. Pollack batted down a pass fromSouth CarolinaquarterbackCorey 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.

He graduated from the University of Georgia with abachelor's degreein history.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-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 s	1.67 s	2.71 s	3.94 s	6.87 s	37 in (0.94 m)	10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)	25 reps
All values fromNFL Combine.

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,and posted 22 tackles and six assists for a total of 28.

In his second NFL season, 2006, he started the Bengals' first game. On September 17, 2006, in game against in-state rivalCleveland Browns,Pollack suffered what was later determined to be a broken sixthcervical vertebraeduring a tackle in the first quarter. He reportedly suffered noparalysis,but was taken off the field on a stretcher and underwent surgery to fuse twovertebrae,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,ESPNreported 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.

On April 22, 2008, Bengals head coachMarvin Lewisannounced that Pollack was "not completely comfortable where he [was] medically" and that he would retire.

Post-football career

Pollack with Rece Davis and Nick Saban prior to the2023 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 theYMCAscholarships that help underprivileged kids participate in YMCA programs as of February 10, 2008.

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

In fall 2011, he became part of ESPN'sCollege GameDayand a host on thePalmer and Pollackshow.

In summer 2012, it was announced that Pollack would joinRece Davis,Jesse Palmer,andSamantha Ponderon ESPN'sThursday Night Football,replacingCraig James.

In October 2013, he received harsh criticism for his public comments that women should not be allowed to serve on theCollege Football Playoffselection committee because they had not played the game.

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.

Personal life

Pollack is aChristian.Pollack is married with one son and one daughter.

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. “

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromNFL.com·Pro Football Reference
• David PollackonX