Frank Pollack is in his 18th season as an NFL coach, and his fifth overall in Cincinnati. He returned to the Bengals' staff as offensive line coach in 2021 — with the added distinction of run game coordinator — after previously serving in the same role in 2018.
In 2023, Pollack oversaw a cohesive O-line that featured the same five starters in all 17 games. He helped veteran OT Jonah Williams not only return from an injury that kept him out of the final two playoff contests the prior season, but also make the transition from left tackle to right tackle, a position he took over for the first time in his career. Manning the left tackle spot was Orlando Brown Jr., a marquee free agent acquisition who played 97.3 percent of the team's offensive snaps in his first Bengals season.
In 2022, the offensive line featured four offseason additions — free agents Alex Cappa (RG), La'el Collins (ROT) and Ted Karras (C), and fourth-round draft pick Cordell Volson (LG). The line showed improvement as the season progressed, allowing 17 fewer sacks in the second half of the season (14) compared to the first eight games (31), and holding each of its final eight opponents to two or fewer sacks. A late-season wave of injuries led to three reserve linemen making starts in the postseason, and with Pollack's guidance the unit stepped up in a Divisional Playoff win at Buffalo, as it blocked for an offense that totaled 172 rushing yards.
In 2021, the Bengals' offensive line used eight different starting lineups during the regular season, but still managed to pave the way for HB Joe Mixon's career-high 1205 rushing yards (third in NFL). It also protected QB Joe Burrow, who set single-season team records for passing yards (4611) and passer rating (108.3).
Pollack spent the previous two seasons (2019-20) as offensive line coach with the N.Y. Jets. In 2020, he helped guide the team's first-round pick, Mekhi Becton, to numerous all-rookie honors. In 2019, injuries caused the Jets to use 11 different starting O-linemen (second-most in NFL), but under Pollack's direction the unit still allowed 22 fewer sacks in the second half of the season compared to the first.
During his previous stop with the Bengals in 2018, Pollack helped four new players transition into starting roles. The O-line opened holes for Mixon's 1168 rushing yards.
Pollack spent 2013-17 coaching the offensive line in Dallas, where he developed one of the most dominant units in the NFL. During his tenure, OT Tyron Smith, C Travis Frederick and G Zack Martin each earned Pro Bowl selections from '15-17. In 2016, Dallas' O-line was named the NFL's Offensive Line of the Year, after helping RB Ezekiel Elliott rush for a league-leading 1631 yards. In 2015, Smith, Frederick and Martin each netted All-Pro honors, as the Cowboys ranked fifth in the NFL with 4.63 yards per carry.
Pollack served as Dallas' assistant offensive line coach in 2014, a season in which the Cowboys produced 4.63 yards per carry (third in NFL). In 2013, Pollack's first season in Dallas, the Cowboys ranked eighth in the NFL in yards per carry (4.48), while allowing the seventh-fewest sacks in the league (35).
Pollack spent the 2012 season as offensive line coach for the Oakland Raiders. From 2007-11, he served as assistant O-line coach for the Houston Texans, helping the team rank second in the league with 153 rushing yards per game in '11.
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 pick by San Francisco in 1990, Pollack played two seasons ('90-91) with the 49ers, before joining Denver for two years ('92-93). He returned to San Francisco for the final five seasons of his playing career (1994-98), helping the 49ers win Super Bowl XXIX.
Pollack played 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 OT/G at Northern Arizona. 1990-97—Played OT/G 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-present—AC, Bengals.
