Tony Pollard

PRO: The Titans signed Tony Pollard early in the 2024 offseason to add experience and a playmaking threat to the offensive backfield. The 6-foot, 209-pounder entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2019. The Memphis product served primarily as a backup during his first three seasons with the Cowboys before enjoying a breakout 2022 campaign with 1,007 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns with led to his first career Pro Bowl nod. Dallas used the franchise tag on Pollard heading into the 2023 season, and he responded with 1,005 yards on the ground and six scores.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• In 2023, Pollard started all 17 games for the first time in his career and led the Cowboys with 1,005 rushing yards on a career-high 252 carries with six touchdowns.
• In 2022, Pollard was selected to his first career Pro Bowl after rushing 193 times for 1,007 yards and nine scores, while averaging 5.2 yards-per-carry to rank third in the NFL.
• Pollard had a memorable 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thanksgiving Day in 2021.

TITANS TIDBITS:
• Pollard's family owns Pollard's Bar-B-Q restaurant in his hometown of Memphis. Starting from humble beginnings, Pollard's was first established as a mobile catering business in 1995. As the demand for their unique southern style of Memphis BBQ grew, Pollard's reopened in the fall of 1996 as a small carry-out catering business. In 2011, Pollard's answered the overwhelming demands of its growing customer base by becoming a dine-in restaurant. With the new expansion came bigger and better things, such as an expanded menu and an upscale renovation by Food Network's Robert Irvine from Restaurant Impossible.
• Pollard was a dynamic kickoff returner at the collegiate level, tying a FBS record with seven career kickoff returns for touchdowns during his Memphis career.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The Memphis, Tenn., native was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (128th overall) the 2019 NFL Draft.
• Designated by the Cowboys as the non-exclusive franchise player on March 6, 2023 and signed the franchise tag tender on March 23, 2023.
• Signed by the Titans as an unrestricted free agent on March 14, 2024.

SEASON RECAPS:

2023 (17/17, 1/1 - Dallas): Started all 17 games for the first time in his career and led the team with 1,005 rushing yards on a career-high 252 carries with six touchdowns. Also finished third on the offense with a career-best 55 receptions for 311 yards (fifth). Combined with his 1,007 rushing yards in 2022, became the sixth running back in team history to have consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, joining Calvin Hill, Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith, DeMarco Murray and Ezekiel Elliott. Started the postseason contest and carried the ball 15 times for 56 yards to go along with seven receptions for 29 yards.
• At N.Y. Giants (9/10), rushed for 70 yards on 14 carries and totaled two touchdowns on the ground, his fourth career game with multiple rushing touchdowns.
• Against N.Y. Jets (9/17), tallied a career-high 25 carries for 72 yards and caught seven passes for 37 yards for a career-high 32 total touches.
• At Arizona (9/24), carried the ball 23 times for a season-best 122 yards (5.3 avg.) - third-most rushing yards in a game of his career. It also marked his seventh career 100-yard rushing game and his first since he had 115 yards at Green Bay (11/13/22).
• At L.A. Chargers (10/16), finished with 110 scrimmage yards (30 rushing; 80 receiving), his third game of the season - 15th of his career - with 100-plus scrimmage yards. Had a 60-yard reception - second-longest catch of his career.
• Against Washington (11/23), recorded 13 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown while catching six passes for 24 yards, his fourth game with 100 scrimmage yards in 2023 and 16th of his career.
• Against Seattle (11/30), notched 20 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown. Marked this third consecutive game with a rushing touchdown in, a career-long touchdown streak.
• At Washington (1/7), recorded 17 carries for 70 yards and a score, adding two catches for 16 yards. Eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards on the season (1,005) to become the sixth running back in team history to have consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
• Against Green Bay (1/14), made his first career postseason start in the Wild Card Playoff Game and rushed 15 times for 56 yards and a touchdown while catching seven passes for 29 yards. His seven receptions tied for the second-most by a running back in a post-season game in team history.

2022 (16/4, 2/0 - Dallas): Earned his first Pro Bowl nod after seeing action in 16 games with four starts at running back. Set the tone for the Dallas rushing attack, toting the rock 193 times for 1,007 yards - his first career 1,000-yard season - and nine scores, averaging 5.2 yards-per-carry to rank third in the NFL. Also caught a then career-high tying 39 passes for a career-best 371 yards and three scores. Combining his rushing and receiving average, he led the NFL with 5.94 yards-per-touch. Was inactive for one contest. Appeared as a reserve in both postseason games and amassed 21 carries for 99 yards while adding five catches for 23 yards.
• At N.Y. Giants (9/26), led the team with 105 yards (8.1 avg.) on 13 carries.
• At L.A. Rams (10/9), provided 86 yards on eight carries with a 57-yard rushing score - the second-longest rushing score of his career.
• Against Chicago (10/30), carried the ball 14 times for 131 yards and a career-best three rushing scores – the first Cowboy with three rushing scores since Dak Prescott had three at Atlanta (9/20/20).
• At Green Bay (11/13), toted the rock a career-high 22 times for 115 yards and a score, topping 3,000 career scrimmage yards in the process.
• At Minnesota (11/20), finished with a career-high 189 scrimmage yards (109 receiving; 80 rushing) and two receiving scores. Became the fourth NFL player since 1990 with at least 75 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a game, joining Joey Galloway, Todd Gurley and LaDainian Tomlinson.
• At Jacksonville (12/14), led the offense with 19 carries for 75 yards and caught four passes for 31 yards – his seventh game with 100 scrimmage yards.
• At Washington (1/8/23), rushed seven times for 19 yards to surpass 1,000 yards on the ground for the first time in his career.
• At Tampa Bay (1/26), led all rushers with 77 yards on 15 carries in the Wild Card Game.

2021 (15/0, 1/0 - Dallas): Appeared as a reserve in 15 games and rushed for 719 yards and two touchdowns on 130 carries. Caught 39 passes for 337 yards. Also recorded 17 kick returns for 481 yards with a touchdown while tying for second on the team with five special teams tackles. Was inactive for two contests. Saw action in his first career playoff contest and rushed four times for 14 yards and added two receptions for 12 yards.
• At L.A. Chargers (9/19), collected 109 yards and a score on 13 carries and caught three balls for 31 yards in the win.
• Against N.Y. Giants (10/10), produced 14 carries for 75 yards as he teamed with Ezekiel Elliott to give Dallas 200 total rushing yards for the second consecutive game in the win.
• Against Las Vegas (11/25), posted his first career kick return for a touchdown, taking a return back 100 yards. Finished the Thanksgiving Day game with three returns for 129 yards, 10 rushes for 36 yards, four receptions for 32 yards and two special teams tackles.
• At New Orleans (12/2), had a career-long 58-yard scoring jaunt, finishing with 71 yards on seven carries, catching two passes for three yards and returning one kick for 22 yards.
• At N.Y. Giants (12/19), led the team with 74 yards on 12 rushes and caught three passes for 13 yards.
• Against Arizona (1/2), produced nine rushing yards and 49 receiving yards, topping 1,000 scrimmage yards for the season - his first career 1,000-scrimmage yard campaign.

2020 (16/2 - Dallas): Played in all 16 games with two starts at running back and rushed for 435 yards and four touchdowns on 101 carries while catching 28 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown. Finished fourth in the NFL with 766 kickoff return yards and tied for second in the league with 32 returns.
• Against Atlanta (9/20), logged his first career start as Dallas opened the game with two running backs. Topped 100 kickoff return yards for the first time in his career.
• At Washington (10/15), notched a season-long kickoff return of 67 yards.
• At Philadelphia (11/1), rushed seven times for 40 yards, caught two passes for 24 and returned three kicks for 49 yards.
• At Minnesota (11/22), rushed five times for 60 yards with a 42-yard touchdown.
• At Baltimore (12/8), posted a season-high 126 kickoff return yards.

2019 (15/0 - Dallas): Saw action as a reserve in 15 games as a rookie and rushed 86 times for 455 yards with two touchdowns. Added 15 catches for 107 yards with a score. Returned 14 kickoffs 245 yards. Was inactive for one contest.
• Against N.Y. Giants (9/8), made his NFL debut in the opener and had 24 yards on 13 carries.
• Against Miami (9/22), tallied his first career 100-yard outing and touchdown, finishing the game with 103 rushing yards and a score. Teamed with Ezekiel Elliott (125) to mark the fourth time in franchise history the Cowboys had a pair of 100-yard rushers in the same game.
• At Detroit (11/17), posted his first career receiving touchdown on a 21-yard pass from Dak Prescott. Along with Ezekiel Elliott's receiving score, it marked the first time since 2001 Dallas had two running backs each with a receiving touchdown.
• Against the L.A. Rams (12/15), collected a season-high 131 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown. Scored on a 44-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter.

COLLEGE:
• In three playing seasons at Memphis (2016-18), Pollard played in 40 games and totaled 139 carries for 973 yards with nine rushing touchdowns and added 1,292 yards on 104 career receptions with nine receiving scores. He was considered one of the best kickoff return specialists in college football, tying a FBS record with seven career kick-return touchdowns, 87 kickoff returns (second in school history), 2,616 kickoff return yards (second in school history), 30.1 kick-return average (school record). He finished his career ranked second in school history with 4,680 all-purpose yards.
• As a junior (2018), saw action in 14 games and set career-bests with 78 rush attempts for 552 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 39 catches for 458 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Returned 27 kickoffs for 667 yards with a touchdown.
• As a sophomore (2017), played in all 13 games and registered 22 kick returns for 881 yards, 30 rushes for 230 yards, 36 receptions for 536 yards and one punt return for two yards. Logged a team-high 1,649 all-purpose yards which was the fourth-most for a season in school history. Led the nation in kick-return average at 40.0 yards per return and tied for FBS lead with four kick returns for touchdowns. Finished as the team's second-leading receiver with 536 yards on 36 catches and the squad's third-leading rusher with 230 yards.
• As a redshirt freshman (2016), played in all 13 games and made seven starts at running back. Made an immediate impact in his first collegiate season as one of college football's top kick returners. Ranked among FBS leaders in kick return total yards (2nd; 1,068), kick return average (8th; 28.1 ypr), kick return touchdowns (2nd; 2) and total kick returns (6th; 38). Rushed for 159 yards on 31 carries with a score. Ranked third on the squad with 29 catches for 298 yards and two touchdowns.
• As a true freshman (2015), redshirted.
• Graduated from Memphis with a degree in sport and leisure management.

PERSONAL:
• Attended Melrose (Memphis, Tenn.) High School, where he was a two-way all-district selection at both wide receiver and defensive back.
• As a senior (2014), registered over 1,200 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. Named to The Commercial Appeal 2014 Class 4A-5A Best of the Preps Team after helping the Golden Wildcats to an 8-3 record and a state playoffs appearance. Selected to play in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl All-Star Game.
• As a junior (2013), helped lead Melrose to an 8-4 record and a TSSAA Class 5A state playoffs berth.
• Son of Torria and Tarrance Pollard. Has two siblings, Tneshia and Terrion.
• Follow Pollard on X at @Tp_5 and on Instagram at @playmaker_tp.
• Born Tony Randall Pollard on April 30, 1997 in Memphis, Tenn.