Pollard was born Jan. 27, 1894 in Chicago. He was named All-America as a halfback and led Brown to the Rose Bowl after the 1915 season (played Jan. 1, 1916). Pollard was the first African American to play in the prestigious bowl game.
He followed that distinguished college career by serving in World War I and becoming a pro — an Akron Pro, that is — in 1920 when Pollard helped his team to an 8-0-3 mark and the first championship of the American Professional Football Association. The league became the NFL in 1922.
Pollard was named the first African American head coach in league history in 1921, as he continued to play for the Pros that season.