in
memoriam
THE FRITZ POLLARD ALLIANCE FOUNDATION honors those whose lives embodied the strength, determination and will to change the course of history for generations to follow.
The first African American coach in the National Football League. On February 5, 2005, Mr. Pollard was selected for induction into the Hall of Fame.
Frederick Douglass “Fritz” Pollard was the first African American coach in the National Football League.
“Fritz” Pollard grew up in Chicago. By the time he graduated from high school, he was a talented baseball player, running back and a three-time Cook County track champion. He briefly played football for Northwestern, Harvard and Dartmouth before receiving a scholarship from the Rockefeller family to attend Brown University in 1915.
It was here where Pollard led his squad to the 1915 Rose Bowl game. He was the first African American to play in the Rose Bowl, and the second to be named an All-American in college football. After leaving Brown, Pollard briefly pursued a degree in dentistry, worked as director of an army YMCA, and coached football at Lincoln University.
Pollard signed to play for the Akron Pros in the American Professional Football Association (APFA) and led Akron to a championship in 1920. He was named head coach in 1921 and continued to play for the Pros as well. The APFA was renamed the National Football League (NFL) in 1922, making Pollard the first African American coach in NFL history.