Marcus Pollard

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Marcus Pollard

| image = Marcus Pollard.jpg

| caption = Pollard in 2012

| current_team = Jacksonville Jaguars

| number =

| position = Director of player engagement and youth football

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|2|8}}

| birth_place = Valley, Alabama, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lb = 255

| high_school = Valley (Valley, Alabama)

| college = {{ubl|SCCC (1990-1992)| Bradley (1992-1994)}}

| undraftedyear = 1995

| pastteams =

Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|1995|2004}})
Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2005|2006}})
Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2007}})
New England Patriots (2008)*
Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2008}})

| statlabel1 = Receptions

| statvalue1 = 349

| statlabel2 = Receiving yards

| statvalue2 = 4,280

| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 40

| pfr = PollMa00

}}

Marcus LaJuan Pollard (born February 8, 1972) is an American former professional football tight end who is currently the director of player engagement and youth football for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with four teams, the Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, and Atlanta Falcons. Pollard was also an off-season member of the New England Patriots.

Early life

Marcus Pollard was born in Valley, Alabama and attended Valley High School in Valley, Alabama. He played both football and basketball while in high school.{{cite news |last1=O'Halloran |first1=Ryan |title=Art of listening: Jaguars' Marcus Pollard knows his role as head of player development |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/08/04/art-listening-jaguars-marcus-pollard-knows-his-role-head/15820690007/ |access-date=March 16, 2024 |work=The Florida Times-Union |date=August 3, 2013}}

College career

=Seward County Community College=

Pollard began his college basketball career at Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kansas from 1990 to 1992. While at Seward, Pollard averaged 12.3 points per game and won 28 total games. As a sophomore, Pollard averaged 14.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.{{cite web |title=Marcus Pollard |url=https://sewardsaints.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20130912lk0tfs |website=Seward Saints Men's Basketball |access-date=March 16, 2024}}

=Bradley University=

Pollard transferred to Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois for his junior and senior seasons.{{cite news |last1=Steinberg |first1=Jacob |title=How Marcus Pollard's unconventional NFL career started on the Hilltop |url=https://www.bradleyscout.com/sports/how-marcus-pollards-unconventional-nfl-career-started-on-the-hilltop/ |access-date=March 16, 2024 |work=The Bradley Scout |date=October 2, 2020}} Pollard started 49 of 58 games at Forward during his two years with Bradley, where he averaged 7.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game with a 49.7% field goal percentage.{{cite web |title=Marcus Pollard |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/marcus-pollard-1.html |website=Sports Reference CBB |access-date=March 16, 2024}} In the 1993–94 season, Pollard helped Bradley complete a turnaround from their previous 11–16 record. Bradley finished with a 23–8 record, having reached the third round of the National Invitational Tournament.{{cite web |title=Hall of Fame: Marcus Pollard |url=https://mvc-sports.com/hof.aspx?hof=5 |website=Missouri Valley Conference |access-date=March 16, 2024}}

Pollard was inducted into the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2017.{{cite web |title=1993-94 Basketball (M) Roster, #3 Marcus Pollard |url=https://bradleybraves.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/marcus-pollard/6646 |website=Bradley Braves |access-date=March 16, 2024}}

Professional career

=Indianapolis Colts (1995-2004)=

Despite not having played college football,{{cite news|last=Mihoces |first=Gary |title=NFL seeks best players on the court or mat |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2005draft/2005-04-20-no-college-experience_x.htm |access-date=October 28, 2013 |newspaper=USA Today |date=April 20, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029210147/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2005draft/2005-04-20-no-college-experience_x.htm |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=live }} Pollard was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1995. He spent 10 seasons with the Colts, initially as a blocking tight end. However, Pollard quickly developed into a reliable pass-catching tight end, and ended his time in Indianapolis with a total of 263 receptions for 3,391 yards and 35 touchdowns.{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Philip B. |title=Indianapolis Colts' best undrafted free agents: No. 1, tight end Marcus Pollard |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/philb/1/01/01/indianapolis-colts-best-undrafted-free-agents-no-1-tight-end-marcus-pollard/2536773/ |access-date=March 16, 2024 |work=The Indianapolis Star |date=July 17, 2013}}

Pollard's breakout season with the Colts came in 1998. He started 11 of 16 games and had 24 receptions for 309 yards and four touchdowns. The 2001 season was Pollard's best, when he totaled 47 receptions for 739 yards and eight touchdowns. On November 11, 2004, Pollard caught two touchdowns to help the Colts to a 31–28 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.[https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=241108011 Duo break NFL's quarterback-receiver completions record]

After the emergence of tight end Dallas Clark in Indianapolis left Pollard expendable, Pollard was released following the 2004 season.{{Cite web |date=2005-03-03 |title=Colts release tight end Marcus Pollard and four other starters |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story?id=2003480&src=desktop |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}

=Detroit Lions (2005-2006)=

Pollard spent two seasons with the Detroit Lions, where he started 21 of 31 games. His most productive season in Detroit came in 2005, where Pollard started all 16 games and recorded 46 receptions for 516 yards and three touchdowns. He was released by the Lions following the 2006 season.{{cite news |last=Cotsonika |first=Nicholas J. |title=Lions trade Hall, eye White |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press/143523384// |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=March 3, 2007 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=March 16, 2024}}

=Seattle Seahawks (2007)=

The Seattle Seahawks signed Pollard for the 2007 season, his only year in Seattle. Pollard started 10 of the 14 games he appeared in, with 28 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Marcus Pollard 2007 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PollMa00/gamelog/2007/ |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

=New England Patriots (2008)=

Pollard signed with the New England Patriots prior to the 2008 season. However, he was released in August before the regular season began.{{cite news |title=Transactions |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-daily-news/143523664/ |newspaper=Longview Daily News |date=August 20, 2008 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=March 16, 2024}}

=Atlanta Falcons (2008)=

After being released from the Patriots, Pollard was picked up by the Atlanta Falcons at the beginning of the 2008 season. He was there for one year before retiring.

NFL career statistics

=Regular season=

NFL career statistics

= Regular season =

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="5"\| Receiving
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
GP	GS	Rec	Yards	Avg	Lng	TD
1995	IND \| 8 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0.0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
1996	IND \| 16 \|\| 4 \|\| 6 \|\| 86 \|\| 14.3 \|\| 48 \|\| 1
1997	IND \| 16 \|\| 6 \|\| 10 \|\| 116 \|\| 11.6 \|\| 28 \|\| 0
1998	IND \| 16 \|\| 11 \|\| 24 \|\| 309 \|\| 12.9 \|\| 44 \|\| 4
1999	IND \| 16 \|\| 12 \|\| 34 \|\| 374 \|\| 11.0 \|\| 33 \|\| 4
2000	IND \| 16 \|\| 14 \|\| 30 \|\| 439 \|\| 14.6 \|\| 50 \|\| 3
2001	IND \| 16 \|\| 16 \|\| 47 \|\| 739 \|\| 15.7 \|\| 86 \|\| 8
2002	IND \| 15 \|\| 15 \|\| 43 \|\| 478 \|\| 11.1 \|\| 41 \|\| 6
2003	IND \| 14 \|\| 13 \|\| 40 \|\| 541 \|\| 13.5 \|\| 70 \|\| 3
2004	IND \| 13 \|\| 13 \|\| 29 \|\| 309 \|\| 10.7 \|\| 31 \|\| 6
2005	DET \| 16 \|\| 16 \|\| 46 \|\| 516 \|\| 11.2 \|\| 86 \|\| 3
2006	DET \| 15 \|\| 5 \|\| 12 \|\| 100 \|\| 8.3 \|\| 22 \|\| 0
2007	SEA \| 14 \|\| 10 \|\| 28 \|\| 273 \|\| 9.8 \|\| 22 \|\| 2
2008	ATL \| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0.0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
colspan="2"\| Career	192	135	349	4,280	12.3	86	40

=Postseason=

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="5"\| Receiving
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1995	IND \| 2 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0.0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
1996	IND \| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0.0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0
1999	IND \| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 10 \|\| 10.0 \|\| 10 \|\| 0
2000	IND \| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 13 \|\| 13.0 \|\| 13 \|\| 0
2002	IND \| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 1 \|\| 16 \|\| 16.0 \|\| 16 \|\| 0
2003	IND \| 3 \|\| 3 \|\| 10 \|\| 156 \|\| 15.6 \|\| 32 \|\| 1
2004	IND \| 2 \|\| 2 \|\| 3 \|\| 30 \|\| 10.0 \|\| 25 \|\| 0
2007	SEA \| 2 \|\| 2 \|\| 1 \|\| 3 \|\| 3.0 \|\| 3 \|\| 0
2008	ATL \| 1 \|\| 0 \|\| 2 \|\| 7 \|\| 3.5 \|\| 6 \|\| 0
colspan="2"\| Career	14	10	19	235	12.4	32	1

Front office career

Since 2013, Pollard has served as the Director of Player Engagement and Youth Football for the Jacksonville Jaguars.{{cite web|url=http://jaxairnews.jacksonville.com/opinion/premium/blog/400565/gene-frenette/2013-04-05/gene-frenette-jaguars-draft-still-discussion |title=Gene Frenette: Jaguars' draft still up for discussion | Jax Air News |access-date=April 16, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031613/http://jaxairnews.jacksonville.com/opinion/premium/blog/400565/gene-frenette/2013-04-05/gene-frenette-jaguars-draft-still-discussion |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}{{cite web |title=Marcus Pollard |url=https://www.jaguars.com/team/front-office-roster/marcus-pollard |website=Jaguars.com |access-date=March 16, 2024}}

Personal life

Pollard and his wife, Amani, were cast members of the reality television show The Amazing Race 19.{{cite magazine|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/08/31/amazing-race-cast-survivor-ethan-jenna/|title='Survivor' winners Ethan and Jenna head up new 'Amazing Race' cast. Plus: New twists revealed! -- EXCLUSIVE|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|last=Ross|first=Dalton|date=August 31, 2011|access-date=August 31, 2011}} They finished the competition in third place out of 11 teams. They have four children.{{cite web |title=Marcus Pollard |url=https://www.jaguars.com/team/football-staff/marcus-pollard.html |website=Jacksonville Jaguars |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220105232/https://www.jaguars.com/team/football-staff/marcus-pollard.html |archive-date=December 20, 2016}} Pollard's son, Micah, currently plays college football for the University of Michigan.{{cite news |last1=Sang |first1=Orion |title=3-star LB Micah Pollard, nephew of Braylon Edwards, commits to Michigan football |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2021/07/12/michigan-football-micah-pollard-braylon-edwards/7943483002/ |access-date=March 16, 2024 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=July 12, 2021}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20090129225209/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Players/Active/Marcus_Pollard.aspx Atlanta Falcons bio]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070629171058/http://www.detroitlions.com/bio.cfm?bio_id=267&season=7 Detroit Lions bio]
[http://archive.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=6688 New England Patriots bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404113130/http://archive.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=6688 |date=April 4, 2012 }}

Category:1972 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football tight ends

Category:Atlanta Falcons players

Category:Basketball players from Alabama

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Bradley Braves men's basketball players

Category:Detroit Lions players

Category:Indianapolis Colts players

Category:Jacksonville Jaguars executives

Category:Junior college men's basketball players in the United States

Category:New England Patriots players

Category:People from Valley, Alabama

Category:Seattle Seahawks players

Category:Participants in American reality television series

Category:20th-century American sportsmen