Carlos Polk facts for kids
![]() Polk with the San Diego Chargers in 2007
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Dallas Cowboys | |||||||||||
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Position: | Assistant special teams coach | ||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
Born: | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
February 22, 1977 ||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
Weight: | 262 lb (119 kg) | ||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||
High school: | Guilford (Rockford, Illinois) | ||||||||||
College: | Nebraska (1996–2000) | ||||||||||
NFL Draft: | 2001 / Round: 4 / Pick: 112 | ||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||
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As coach: | |||||||||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
Carlos Devonn Polk, born on February 22, 1977, is an American football coach. He used to be a linebacker (a defensive player) in the National Football League (NFL). Currently, he is the assistant special teams coach for the Dallas Cowboys.
Before joining the Cowboys, he was an assistant coach for other NFL teams. These included the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and San Diego Chargers. He also coached at Grossmont College.
Polk played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The San Diego Chargers chose him in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL draft. He played for eight seasons in the NFL with the Chargers and the Dallas Cowboys.
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Carlos Polk's Early Life and High School Football
Carlos Polk grew up in Rockford, Illinois. He went to Guilford High School, where he was an amazing linebacker for the Vikings football team.
In his final year of high school, he made 152 tackles. He also had 13 quarterback sacks, recovered 3 fumbles, and blocked 3 kicks. He even made one interception.
Carlos finished his high school career with 453 tackles, which was one of the highest in Illinois history. He also recovered 10 fumbles, blocked 7 kicks, and made 5 interceptions. He was named All-conference three times and All-state. USA Today also named him an All-American. He was the Northern Illinois Conference-9 Defensive Player of the Year. Besides football, he also played basketball.
Carlos Polk's College Football Career
Carlos Polk received a football scholarship to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Winning a National Championship
As a freshman, he was part of the Cornhuskers team that won the 1997 national championship. He played in 12 games, making 32 tackles and one sack.
In his second year, he played in all 13 games. He made 22 tackles, forced 2 fumbles, and had one interception.
Becoming a Starter
As a junior, Carlos became a starter at middle linebacker. He made 83 tackles, which was second-best on the team. He also had 6.5 sacks.
In his senior year, he led the team with 90 tackles. He also had one interception and defended 5 passes. He finished his college career with 227 tackles, which is 14th all-time in school history.
In 2010, Carlos Polk was honored by being added to the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.
Carlos Polk's NFL Playing Career
Carlos Polk was chosen by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL draft. He was the 112th player picked overall.
Playing for the San Diego Chargers
As a new player in 2001, he played in 6 games on special teams. He made 4 tackles before getting injured.
In 2002, his teammates voted him the Chargers Special Teams Player of the Year. He led the team with 13 tackles. He also got his first safety (when a defensive player tackles an offensive player in their own end zone) and blocked his first kick. In 2003, he was again voted co-Special Teams Player of the Year.
In 2004 and 2005, Carlos faced injuries that kept him from playing much.
In 2006, he had his best season. He made 32 defensive tackles and 2 sacks. He also had 19 special teams tackles, which was second on the team. He received the team's Ed Block Courage Award for his bravery and spirit.
In 2007, he started two games as an inside linebacker. He was leading the team with 11 special teams tackles before another shoulder injury ended his season. At the end of that year, he shared the team's Most Inspirational Player Award. The Chargers released him in August 2008.
Playing for the Dallas Cowboys
On October 16, 2008, the Dallas Cowboys signed Carlos Polk. He joined his former defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips, who was now the Cowboys' head coach. He played 10 games and made 10 special teams tackles. He also forced one fumble and blocked one punt. He was not re-signed after that season.
Carlos Polk's Coaching Career
After his playing career, Carlos Polk became a football coach.
Grossmont College
In 2009, Carlos started his coaching journey at Grossmont College. He worked as their assistant special teams coach.
San Diego Chargers (Coaching)
In 2010, Carlos Polk was hired by the San Diego Chargers as their assistant special teams coach. This was the same team he played for.
Dallas Cowboys (Coaching)
In 2013, Carlos Polk joined the Dallas Cowboys as a coaching intern. He worked under head coach Jason Garrett.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In 2014, Polk moved to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He worked there as their assistant special teams coach.
Dallas Cowboys (Second Coaching Stint)
In 2019, Carlos Polk returned to the Dallas Cowboys as their assistant special teams coach. He reunited with head coach Jason Garrett. However, in January 2020, the new head coach, Mike McCarthy, did not keep him on the coaching staff.
Jacksonville Jaguars
On January 31, 2021, Polk was hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He became their assistant special teams coach under coordinator Brian Schneider and head coach Urban Meyer.
Chicago Bears
On February 11, 2022, Carlos Polk was hired by the Chicago Bears. He worked as the assistant special teams coach under head coach Matt Eberflus.
Dallas Cowboys (Third Coaching Stint)
On February 10, 2025, the Dallas Cowboys hired Carlos Polk for a third time. He is now serving as their assistant special teams coach under head coach Brian Schottenheimer.