Frank Pollack in 2021 enters his 15th season as an NFL coach, and his second overall with Cincinnati. He previously served as Bengals offensive line coach in 2018, and now returns to that post — with the added distinction of run game coordinator — after spending the last two seasons (2019-20) with the N.Y. Jets.
Last season with the Jets, Pollack oversaw the development of rookie first-round pick Mekhi Becton, who earned numerous all-rookie honors and in short time became one of the NFL's top young OTs. In 2019, Pollack steered the Jets through a wave of injuries that forced the team to use 11 different starters (second-most in the NFL) along the line. The line, though, showed improvement, allowing 22 fewer sacks in the second half of the season compared to the first.
During his previous stop with the Bengals in 2018, Pollack led an overhaul of Cincinnati's line that saw four new players transition into regular starting roles. Pollack's line went on to pave the way for Joe Mixon's career-high 1168 rushing yards while ranking in the top third in the league in fewest sacks allowed.
Pollack spent 2013-17 coaching the offensive line in Dallas, where he developed that unit into one of the most dominant in all of football. Over his tenure, he aided in the development of three All-Pro linemen in OT Tyron Smith, C Travis Frederick and G Zack Martin, while helping the line pave the way for two different RBs who led the NFL in rushing — Ezekiel Elliott in 2016, and DeMarco Murray in '14. In 2017, Pollack guided three linemen — Smith, Frederick and Martin — to the Pro Bowl, as the line supported a 4.52-yard average per rush for the team (third in the NFL).
Under Pollack's direction in 2016, Dallas' offensive line was named the NFL's Offensive Line of the Year, with Smith, Frederick and Martin all earning both Pro Bowl and All Pro honors. Pollack's unit paved the way for the NFL's leading rusher in Elliott (1631 yards), a rookie, as Dallas finished second in the NFL in both rushing yards per game (149.8) and time of possession (31:41). Behind the line's protection, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year and broke numerous team single-season records.
In 2015, Pollack's first season leading Dallas' offensive line, Smith, Frederick and Martin all earned both Pro Bowl and All Pro honors. Pollack's line paved the way for Dallas' offense to rack up 1890 rushing yards (ninth in the NFL) and average 4.63 yards per carry (fifth).
In 2014, Pollack served as Dallas' assistant offensive line coach during a season in which the Cowboys produced a 4.63-yard rushing average (third in NFL), and helped Murray rush for a franchise-record and NFL-best 1845 yards, earning him AP Offensive Player of the Year honors. The line also played a key role in the Cowboys ranking No. 1 in the NFL in time of possession (32:36).
In 2013, Pollack's first season in Dallas, the line helped the Cowboys rank eighth in the NFL in yards per carry (4.48), while allowing the seventh-fewest sacks in the league (35).
Prior to Dallas, Pollack in 2012 was offensive line coach of Oakland, where his line guided the Raiders to a No. 8 NFL ranking in passing yards.
Prior to his time in Oakland, Pollack served as assistant offensive line coach for the Houston Texans. In 2011, Houston's line paved the way for a franchise-record 153-yard per game rushing average (second in the NFL).
Pollack also helped guide the Texans' line to success in 2010, when it blocked for Arian Foster, the NFL's leader in rushing yards (1616) and TDs (18).
Before joining the pro ranks, Pollack began his coaching career at his alma mater, Northern Arizona, where he served as co-offensive line coach in 2005 and offensive line coach in '06.
A sixth-round draft choice by San Francisco in 1990, Pollack played two seasons (1990-91) with the 49ers, before joining Denver for two years ('92-93). He then re-joined San Francisco for the final five seasons of his playing career (1994-98), and helped the 49ers to a Super Bowl championship in '94.
In college, Pollack played both offensive tackle and guard at Northern Arizona from 1985-89. He graduated with a degree in advertising from NAU in 1990, and in 2010 he was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.
Pollack and his wife, Wendy, have three sons — Frankie, Carter and Wilson.
Playing and coaching history: 1985-89—Played offensive tackle/guard at Northern Arizona. 1990-97—Played offensive tackle/guard for San Francisco 49ers. 2005-06—Assistant coach (AC), Northern Arizona. 2007-11—AC, Houston Texans. 2012—AC, Oakland Raiders. 2013-17—AC, Dallas Cowboys. 2018—AC, Cincinnati Bengals. 2019-20—AC, N.Y. Jets. 2021—AC, Bengals.
