In 1920, with Pollard leading the team, the Pros went undefeated (8-0-3) to win the league's first championship. He was the first African American selected to a backfield position on Walter Camps All-America team (1916) and the first African American head coach in the National Football League (NFL), with the Akron Pros in 1921. But the discussion of balance that was all about run vs. pass after Tampa Bay should shift to the balancing act the two running backs necessitate. FRISCO, Texas At the age of 14, Tony Pollard started flipping burgers at his family's famous restaurant, Pollard's Bar-B-Que on Elvis Presley Boulevard, in Memphis, Tenn . SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. The Pollard family tells ABC24 how it took a village to help the former Memphis Tiger achieve his dreams. 100 years ago, the NFL took its first baby steps in Indiana, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I had to duck the rocks and the fellas trying to hurt me.". Tony Dungy, who became the first Black . Get the latest news. The Life And Career Of Steve Sabol (Story), The Fascinating Life Of Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder (Story), What Happened To NFL Referee Mike Carey? 0:00. I was never interested in socializing with whites. "For Brown, The Wrong Shoe Was On The Foot In The '16 Rose Bowl Game," by Frank Bianco (Nov. 24, 1980), More Black History Month Pioneers:* Florence Griffith Joyner Smashed Records and Stereotypes* Remembering Satchel Paige, Maybe The Best Pitcher To Ever Live* Paul Robeson Was America's Quintessential Renaissance Man, 2023 ABG-SI LLC. After he was let go by Akron (which had changed its name to the Indians) in 1926, Pollard continued to promote integration in professional football as a coach of the barnstorming Chicago Black Hawks (192832) and the New York Brown Bombers (193537). Pro Football Hall of Fame (inducted 2005), https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fritz-Pollard, Ohio History Central - Biography of Frederick D. Pollard, Pro Football Hall of Fame - Biography of Fritz Pollard, Fritz Pollard - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). He became a tax consultant. He spent years defending his accomplishments, believing that the racism of the early years of the league was played down to lessen the impact of his role and to raise the legend of men like Halas, whom he believed was a racist. Pollard ended his playing career in 1926, aged 32. USA TODAY. Who could blame him? Running back Tony Pollard was not present during the open-to-media portion of the workout, a source telling CowboysSI.com that that the absence is non related to injury. All Rights Reserved. Pollards has been recognized by the Travel Channel as 1 of 10 Memphis BBQ places to visit! RELATED: Defense leads the way in Memphis' 44-34 win over North Texas. But he combated such treatment with tricks he learned from his brothers. The FPA meets with the NFL formally twice a year to discuss proposals and collate a list of qualified minority candidates ready for interview. That's something that was drummed into me.". "Offensive co-ordinators tend to come from quarterbacks, and head coaches from offensive co-ordinators, so the pipeline is thin for African-Americans because of discrimination against black players in so-called 'thinking' positions.". When the clerk refused, Sprackling pounded on the desk bell and shouted, "If there isn't a room for Fritz Pollard, none of us wants one." He managed the Suntan Movie Studio in Harlem. "He always let his skills on the field, and his actions off it, define who he was. Racial disparity in the league's coaching ranks was brought to the forefront last week whenformer Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against the NFL and three of its teams, alleging racial discrimination in hiring practices. His brother Terrion now carries on the family tradition, working with his dad at Pollard's. "I kind of love it. Both men are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Fritz Pollard, an All-America halfback from Brown University was a pro football pioneer in more ways than one. Getty Images. [24] In Week 8, against Chicago, Pollard had 13 carries for 141 yards and three rushing touchdowns in the 4929 win, and was named Ground Player of the Week. Gibbons went on to describe an incident that happened atan Akron restaurant as Pollard sat with a group of teammates. His white teammates had high respect for Pollard and often stuck up for him as he faced discrimination. Pollard's Barber Shop was a popular neighbourhood hang-out and the Pollard boys played football for hours in the local park. That's because Pollard was an exceptional return man for Memphis. "They couldn't find anything so I said 'you're looking in the wrong papers'," says Fritz III. I said 'No you're not, sit down.' Pollard was not the first black athlete paid to play football, but he was the first to star in the confederation of Midwestern franchises that became the National Football League. He is considered by many observers of the NFL as the first conscience of the game. His is a story for too long left untold. I'd rather watch him do it.". "We thought that meant the NFL was out tohire more Black head coaches. "I kind of love it. From the SI Vault: They had reservations at a hotel in Pasadena, but upon their arrival, the desk clerk announced that the hotel had space for everyone except Pollard. In a decade during which hundreds of African-Americans were still being lynched, he was playing a 'white man's game' when the NFL was in its brutal infancy. ", "I will never tell a child again to sit down. He called the team Redskins in 1933, a racial slur that was only dropped in July this year amid mounting pressure. Brown finished with an 8-1 record, with their star player selected in the All-America team. [25] In Week 11, Pollard had 80 rushing yards, and six catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-3 win over the Vikings, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week. When the team went to sign in at the hotel, the front desk refused Pollard. When Pollard was a rookie in 2019 (and when it wasnt necessarily true), the difference between his 5.3 yards per carry and Zekes 4.5 that season was explained away along these lines and by quite a few different people: When Zeke is in the game, the defense puts eight men in the box. It was Halas, who in 1922, suggested to the other owners that the name of the league be changed from the American Professional Football Association to the National Football League. With his last words, spoken to his family in 2003, he said:. But his family's quest finally came to fruition in 2005 when - two years after his son's death - Pollard was inducted into the Hall of Fame. "If somebody were to ask Fritz Pollard, 'What do you think 100 years from now it's going to be like in the National Football League?'" Todd Brock. Latest on Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN Your essential guide to Super Bowl 57 as the Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles in Arizona for the NFL championship. He could do everything - he played on offence and defence. He attended Albert G. Lane Manual Training High School in Chicago where he played football, baseballand ran track. He missed the 1920 Howard game, he said, because his Lincoln salary was so low that he was compelled to augment it with pay from Akron.[9]. That's where he got the nickname Fritz. Flores suit came afterthe New York Giants hiredBrian Daboll over him as head coach. His grandson, Fritz III, became a three-sport All-American at college. and three touchdowns. Pollard's family grew up Pittsburgh Steelers fans, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Halas was the greatest foe of Black football players, Pollard told a reporter in 1971, adding that Halas helped start the ball rolling that eventually led to the barring of blacks from professional football in 1933., While Halas dismissed the notion that he was racist, he wouldnt draft a black player until 1949 when he took George Taliaferro out of Indiana, the first African American to be drafted by an NFL team. [8] Paul Robeson was enlisted by Lincoln's alumni to coach the Thanksgiving 1920 game against Howard. I didnt go sniffing around hoping theyd accept me. 'Feels Like Home:' electrical failure from a light fixture caused December fire that killed 1, Shelby County reporting an increase in drug-related overdoses, largely due to fentanyl, Severe weather threat is over | Prepare for a sunny weekend, Daylight saving time starts soon. Pollard attended Albert G. Lane Manual Training High School in Chicago, also known as "Lane Tech," where he played football, baseball, and ran track. "He literally kept the NFL from folding," Towns said. But Pollard appears more likely for several reasons. Here are five things Cowboys fans might not know about the running back and special teams ace: Stayed home. The NFL did not respond to a request for comment on this story. Fans started showing up to see what this footballleague was all about. This wasn't the first time the team had encountered such prejudice. Not the way Solomon believes Pollard might have expected. Pollard, one of two Black players in the NFL and thefirst Black coach, would suit up in his car outside the football field or go to a nearby cigar store where the owner let him use a back room. But on Thursday night at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, as a sign of how far things have come since Pollards day, 70 percent of the players on the active rosters of the Bears and Packers were black, a statistic that mirrors the dominant presence of blacks on the field in a league that had $8.78 billion in revenue in 2018. Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard (January 27, 1894 May 11, 1986) was an American football player and coach. Pollard, along with all nine of the African American players in the NFL at the time, were removed from the league at the end of the 1926 season, never to return again. Florence Griffith Joyner Jackie Joyner-Kersee Wilma Rudolph Althea Gibson. Marshall was an avowed segregationist who owned the Washington football franchise from its inception in 1932 to his death in 1969. Pollard wouldn't have to dodge the spotlight for long. [2], Pollard accepted a football scholarship from the University of Memphis. Days later, Pollard played in abenefit game inPittsburgh and was greeted with a hero's welcome. In 1923 and 1924, he served as head coach for the Hammond Pros.[2]. Im wondering what it will be this week after Elliott was good against the Chargers and Pollard was great. He feared he had squandered any chance of playing professional football. "The narrative we are dealing with here is very close to the narrative FritzPollard dealtwith 100 years ago.". He registered 29 receptions for 298 yards (10.3-yard avg. They had to cut to a commercial and then my phone just blew up with people saying 'they're talking about your grandfather'.". ProFootballHistory.com. Some of the worst violence took place in Pollard's home town of Chicago. After escaping slavery, he had fought for the Union during the Civil War. The Yale supporters also turned 'Bye Bye Blackbird', a popular song of the day, into a racially abusive anthem. "He was at a game and they thought he was a mascot because he was so tiny," she said. By February 1933, there had been 13 black players in the NFL. Black players began dominatingthe NFL. Frederick "Fritz" Pollard saw what the world was like in the 1890s and the 1980s. [8], Pollard criticized Lincoln's administration, saying they had hampered his ability to coach and had refused to provide adequate travel accommodations for the team. Sometimes Pollard's team stayed in centre-field at half-time rather than run the gauntlet of going into the locker room. While Brown lost the Rose Bowl 14-0 to Washington State,it was a historic game. The race to compete in Super Bowl 57 is under way - how many winners since 2000 can you name? He called the team Redskins in 1933, a racial slur that was only. "Times got hard, he let me skip a payment here, skip a payment there and train them anyway," Tarrance said. Reasons and Patrick, "Pollard Set Records as Black Football Player, Coach". He is the sonof a despised race. In fact, he helped it change. "Oh yes," said Towns. Read about our approach to external linking. Is Dallas becoming unaffordable due to rising housing costs, inflation and stagnating pay? Hes 17th in the league in rushing on just 16 carries, but his 7.7 average is the best among all running backs with at least three carries. It is remarkable to watch the hoops that people will jump through, the injuries they will risk to avoid stating the rather obvious fact that Tony Pollard is a better runner than Ezekiel Elliott. Yet, Solomon said, Black men still aren't given equal opportunity to coach the teams they, perhaps, played for. Everything he learnt from his brothers was about to be put to the test. 3:09. And maybe this will simply be like 2006, when it was clear all season that Marion Barber was more productive than Julius Jones, when Barber scored 10 more touchdowns and averaged almost a yard per carry more than Jones but Barber never started until the team got into the playoffs. He founded a newspaper, and set up an investment fund and a company trading coal. His brother Terrion now carries on the family tradition, working with his dad at Pollard's. Updates? Pollard himself was now in the factory town of Akron, Ohio. Pollard and Thorpe were pro football's highest-paid players, the main attractions. His professional career was finally about to begin. Alternate titles: Frederick Douglass Pollard, Sr. Regents Professor of History at Lamar University. Pollard also facilitated integration in the NFL by recruiting other African American players such as Paul Robeson, Jay Mayo Williams, and John Shelbourne and by organizing the first interracial all-star game featuring NFL players in 1922. "This is a man who paved the way, who showed there is hope. In 1981 Brown University conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Five of the 11 men who had agreed to ban black players were, however. The 1993 Super Bowl was to be a landmark event for Arizona but it disappeared out of the state in a swirl of politics, polemic and division. Pollard and Bobby Marshall were the first two African-American players in the NFL in 1920. At that time Pollard was 69 and the owner of several business ventures. He's also caught 39 passes for 337 yards. That achievement speaks volumes, because like Dallas, Memphis is known for some good BBQ. They were the suburb's only black family. "And it's not even close.". The opposing teams gave me hell too.". Mother Amanda was a respected seamstress while father John was a successful businessman. My sincere hope is that by standing up against systemic racism in the NFL, others will join me to ensure that positive change is made for generations to come.". His brothers decided they had to toughen him up. Then in November 1923, after switching teams, he played an entire game at quarterback for the Hammond Pros. "They said no African Americans, period, because it was bad for business," said Towns. "And the other big difference is that 70% of the players are Black.". But its unlikely Zeke will get beyond 4.5 yards per carry, where he finished in 2019. [11], Pollard was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (128th overall) in the 2019 NFL Draft. As he walked on, he wouldheartaunts shouted from the stands. More than 12,000 people came out to Wrigley to see a much-hyped contest that ended in a scoreless tie. Football pioneer Walter Camp called Pollard "one of the greatest runners these eyes have ever seen."[1]. Then a fateful meeting took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There are twoBlack head coachesin the NFL in 2022. In 1919, he signed on to play for the Akron Pros in the American Professional Football Association, which was renamed the NFL in 1922. For decades the team owners claimed there was no unwritten agreement. Take away his first game as a rookie against the Giants when he had 24 yards on 13 carries (weirdly, Zeke wasnt good in his debut against the Giants, either, in a season where he averaged more than 100 yards per game), and here are Pollards totals when he gets at least 12 carries: The 2021 numbers are skewed because we are only two weeks into the season, but the quality of Pollards start is undeniable. AKA: Sharon K Fritz, Sharon Fritz-Pollard, Sharon K Pollard. Its possible the head coach simply believes that. Pollard got all of 13 carries and turned it into 109 yards, his second biggest day as a pro. It didn't end until the Los Angeles Rams signed Kenny Washington in 1946, and the NFL wasn't fully reintegrated until 1962. It would be almost half a century until the NFL next had a black starting quarterback. Fritz Pollard Jr suffered from Alzheimer's during the final years of his life, but just before he died there was a moment of clarity. They dressed in locker rooms, ate with teammates at restaurants, slept in team hotels and became multi-million-dollar superstars. "My son is on TV playing for the Cowboys? He also worked as director of an army YMCAand coached football at Lincoln University. Yet the social revolution that Pollard led in the professional game is largely responsible for the sports endurance as the countrys most popular spectator sport. Fritz, the standout achiever, earned a Rockefeller Scholarship at Brown University, an Ivy League school in Providence, Rhode Island, on the United States' east coast. Tony isn't the only Pollard living his dream. Are we to believe that youre really doing exhaustive searches, trying to uncover the best coaches, but only two out of the last 20 have been African Americans?". MEMPHIS, Tenn. Pollard's BBQ is back open on Sundaysbut you better have your Cowboys gear on. "If anybody had the right to be angry about the way he was treated it was my grandfather, but he never showed it," says Fritz III. Pollard left a legacy no one would soon forget in his years at UND. Pollard left a lasting impression in Providence. At one game, a competitor started mocking Pollard's curly hair. Be the smartest Cowboys fan. As a player-coach and later a fierce private advocate for black advancement in the game, Pollard never backed down to this authority. For his son, the Olympic hurdler, see. Two of the oldest teams, the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears, who opened this years season on Thursday night, were all-white when they first met. Kansas CIty Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' touchdowns from his biggest games this season ahead of Sunday night's NFL Super Bowl against the. Teams would take kick-offs short, so that Pollard could be gang-tackled as soon as he received the ball. [27], Last edited on 27 February 2023, at 01:13, "Tony Pollard, Memphis , All Purpose Back", "Prep insider: All-district 16-AAA football teams", "Tony Pollard is AAC special teams player of the year; Five other Tigers earn all-conference honors", "2017 American Athletic Conference Football Postseason Honors", "Birmingham Bowl - Memphis vs Wake Forest Box Score, December 22, 2018", "Tony Pollard 2018 University of Memphis", "Memphis football's Tony Pollard declares for the NFL Draft", "Memphis' Tony Pollard added to Senior Bowl Roster", "Tony Pollard Draft and Combine Prospect Profile", "Tony Pollard, Memphis, WR, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football", "New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys September 8th, 2019", "Prescott, Cowboys get out of funk, ease past Dolphins 316", "Cowboys render coin toss mix-up moot, throttle Rams 4421", "2020 Dallas Cowboys Statistics & Players", "San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys December 20th, 2020", "Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers - September 19th, 2021", "New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys - October 10th, 2021", "2022 NFL season, Week 5: What We Learned from Sunday's games", "Updates: Tony Pollard Wins Weekly RB Award", "Cowboys RB Tony Pollard, Chiefs TE Travis Kelce highlight Players of the Week", "Source: RB Pollard undergoes surgery for ankle", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tony_Pollard_(American_football)&oldid=1141830404, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 01:13. Many know that Pollard suffered from food poising at the NFL combine. As his team returned from one game in Gilberton, the train's windows were shot out. On November 19, 1922, Pollard and Paul Robeson lead the Badgers to victory over the great Jim Thorpe and his Oorang Indians.