Fritz Pollard facts for kids
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Pollard in 1916
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| Position: | Back | ||||||||
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| Born: | January 27, 1894 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Died: | May 11, 1986 (aged 92) Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 166 lb (75 kg) | ||||||||
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| College: | Brown (1915–1916) | ||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard (born January 27, 1894 – died May 11, 1986) was an important American football player and coach. In 1921, he made history as the first African-American head coach in the National Football League (NFL). Pollard and Bobby Marshall were also the first two African-American players in the NFL in 1920. A famous football pioneer, Walter Camp, once called Pollard "one of the greatest runners these eyes have ever seen."
Contents
Early Life and College Football
Fritz Pollard grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He went to Albert G. Lane Manual Training High School, also known as "Lane Tech." There, he was a talented athlete, playing football, baseball, and running track.
After high school, Pollard attended Brown University. He studied chemistry and played halfback on the Brown football team. In 1916, his team played in the famous 1916 Rose Bowl game. Pollard was the first African American football player at Brown University. He also became the first African American running back to be chosen for Walter Camp's College Football All-America Team. This team recognized the best college football players in the country.
Pollard also coached the football team at Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) from 1918 to 1920. He helped the team have successful seasons. He even bought football shoes for his team when the school did not provide them.
Professional Football Career
Fritz Pollard started playing professional football with the Akron Pros. He led this team to win the APFA championship in 1920. The APFA later became the NFL. In 1921, he became the co-head coach of the Akron Pros. He was still a running back on the team at the same time.
Pollard also played for several other professional teams. These included the Milwaukee Badgers, Hammond Pros, Gilberton Cadamounts, Union Club of Phoenixville, and Providence Steam Roller. He even coached the Gilberton Cadamounts and the Hammond Pros.
In 1922, Pollard and another famous player, Paul Robeson, led the Milwaukee Badgers to a big win. They defeated Jim Thorpe and his Oorang Indians team 13-0. Robeson scored both touchdowns in that game.
After the 1926 season, Fritz Pollard and all other African American players were no longer in the NFL. He then started his own all-African American football teams. These included the Chicago Black Hawks in 1928 and the Harlem Brown Bombers in the 1930s.
Later Life and Other Ventures
In the 1930s, Pollard created his own professional football team, the Brown Bombers. However, the Great Depression made it hard for the team to continue, and they stopped playing in 1938.
Fritz Pollard then explored many other careers. He had a talent agency, worked as a tax consultant, and even produced films and music. In 1956, he produced a film called Rockin' the Blues. This film featured many talented performers. Pollard also published a newspaper called the New York Independent News from 1935 to 1942. It was one of the first African American-owned tabloid newspapers in New York City.
Honors and Legacy
Fritz Pollard is remembered for his important contributions to football and beyond.
- In 1981, Brown University gave him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. This recognized his achievements as an athlete and a leader.
- In 2005, Fritz Pollard was honored by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This is a very high honor for football players.
- In 2015, he was also inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.
- Pollard appears as a player in the video games Madden NFL 09 and Madden NFL 10. He is also part of the game's Hall of Fame feature.
- His son, Fritz Pollard Jr., was also a talented athlete. He won a bronze medal in the 110 m hurdles at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.
- The Fritz Pollard Alliance is a group that works to promote minority hiring in the NFL. It is named after Pollard.
- Brown University and the Black Coaches & Administrators give out an annual Fritz Pollard Award. This award goes to the college or professional coach chosen as coach of the year.
- The University of North Dakota named its indoor track and football practice building after Fritz Pollard.
See also
In Spanish: Fritz Pollard para niños
- List of African-American firsts
- Racial issues faced by black quarterbacks
