Tony Pollard has been a fan favorite and media darling since he began playing for the Dallas Cowboys after being drafted from the University of Memphis. When the Memphis Tigers played in the Cotton Bowl, all of his former teammates took pictures of his locker at AT&T Stadium, the site of the game.
Pollard was drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft and played the last five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. This offseason, he signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans.
“I am grateful for the opportunity,” Pollard said of the latest chapter of his career. “I’m just blessed to be able to do what I do for a living. I attack every day humbly and just work for everything. So that’s our whole mindset for the team.”
In his Titans debut on Sept. 8, Pollard rushed for 82 yards on 16 carries, including a 26-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Despite Pollard’s strong performance, the Titans lost 24-17 to the Chicago Bears after blowing a 17-point lead.
Pollard rushed for 3,621 yards with 23 touchdowns and averaged 4.75 yards per carry during his time with Dallas. He also proved versatile out of the backfield, recording 176 receptions for 1,319 yards and 5 touchdowns. Pollard’s new contract with the Titans is a 3-year, $21 million deal, with $10 million guaranteed.
The transition back to Tennessee has been seamless for Pollard. On moving closer to home, he said, “It has been very smooth. I just felt like home. I felt like where I belong.”
Pollard has been on a playoff team every year during his time in Dallas, and he hopes to help the Titans return to the playoffs.
Pollard isn’t the only new face. New head coach Brian Callahan spent the last four seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, and he hopes to bring that success to Tennessee with new signal caller Will Levis, who replaces last season’s starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Pollard believes his postseason experience can benefit his teammates.
“(It’s) just knowing what it takes to get there and joining with other guys who have been around the league and to Super Bowls,” Pollard said. “I take those experiences and combine them together, as a whole, and go from there.”
Pollard and the new-look Tennessee Titans will now look to rebound in their home opener against the New York Jets on Sunday, September 15, at noon at Titans Stadium.
As a product of Orange Mound, Pollard has always received warm receptions when mentioned on the jumbotron at Memphis Tigers games. He’s frequently highlighted in the team’s recruiting pitches.
“It is a loving feeling knowing that the city has got your back,” he said. “I was born in Memphis, played for the University of Memphis, and now I am playing for the Tennessee Titans. It is truly a blessing.
“God put me here for a reason,” Pollard continued. “I am trying my best to be the best version of myself while I am here, with the talent He has blessed me with.”
