Brutal Hits, Broken Bodies & the Business of Football

Bernard Pollard1:16

Yeah.

Bernard Pollard1:20

Yeah. And like I said, I embrace it. Uh I'm I'm not here to be liked, you know what I mean? I I I I came here to do a job.

Bernard Pollard1:27

And I expect to get the job done. And whether you like it or not, I'm going to get your job done.

Bernard Pollard1:39

You can play quarterback and not be tough,

Bernard Pollard1:52

Oh, yeah. And if you don't, it's going to be very obvious.

Bernard Pollard2:05

Yeah.

Bernard Pollard2:07

Yeah. Well, hey, look, the hitting is what I is what I do. Uh is what I did, actually. I should say I would I would I would rather hit than get an interception. I've been yelled at so many times in meetings for not going for the pick to get the offense back on the field. I'm like, "Oh, no. I want to hear a crowd. I I want to see I want to see him down groaning and and moaning and and and I want to see that John Deere come out." That's that was me all day long.

Bernard Pollard3:07

Well, I I think you know when you look at that, it's one of those things where you have to understand my my my head is connected to my shoulders. I can't move my head out of the way, right? And but as you said, if it's malicious, like we can see malicious%. We understand the intent, but you know, a lot of it is, well, when guys go to move, we have a split second to make a decision to to to um dive in a tackle or to explode into a tackle, as we would say.

But um I look at it too and I'm like, "Okay, I understand what they're trying to do, bro. They're they're trying to keep the moms of the youth. Um they want to keep them kids because it's dying off. Football is dying off at the younger ages." And so if we can show that, hey, we we care about the safety, we care about this and care about that, we're going to bring them back to the game. And so that way we have from from young age the kids playing and equipment being sold and people at games and all this other stuff.

And so hopefully it it it helps as they get to middle school, high school, college, and pro. But nevertheless, you know, a lot of those kids that are not playing because of the violence, they weren't ever going to get there anyway%. So it's just one of those things where I'm looking like, dude, we can't chase things, don't chase it. Cuz once you start chasing, as you've seen and as other people see, you start destroying the game.

Bernard Pollard5:00

So I'm different. I I tell people all the time, you can put anything you want on a helmet. If I want to hit you helmet to helmet and I want your brain to touch your skull, it's going to touch your skull regardless of that pad being on it or not.

And so it's it's it's optics.

Yeah.

Bernard Pollard5:36

Exactly. Yeah. I'm just I'm not a believer in it. I I understand optics. I [clears throat] understand hey you know the NFL's doing it or some colleges are doing it like everybody should do it or whatever it may be. But, you know, I'm one of them ones where I'm like, dude, like

It's not going to stop you from getting knocked out. Finer pose un, you know, like unconscious. It's not stopping any of that. So, you know, as I I was making fun of my son one day cuz he came out with it in while we were training. I'm looking like, "Bro, take that off." I'm like, "Bro, I can't I can't look at you while we're training and and you sitting here." I'm like,

Bernard Pollard6:13

It It's not doing anything for the kids at all. And so it's a to me it's a waste of money. Yeah. You know, but if somebody wants to get it to make themselves feel better,

Yeah.

By all means go ahead.

Bernard Pollard6:25

Fort Wayne, Indiana. Man,

Bernard Pollard6:29

My childhood was my father loved football, played football. Uh my mother was churchgoing and [snorts] just soft. When I say soft, I mean just a beautiful soul.

Yeah. um still is. I had to for me, you know, me and my two sisters, my mom and my dad going through a divorce at a young age, I had to had to figure things out fairly quickly.

Bernard Pollard7:00

I was probably four or five.

And so, you know, yeah, really young. So, my father was my father was in the military. I was born in Fedville, North Carolina. And when they were going through the divorce, my mom went back to Indiana and then my dad ended up coming back. But nevertheless, it was going through the divorce and me and my sisters end up going with my mom, my father had was in another relationship, got another relationship and then had other kids. So, you know, I'm six, five, six sisters and then a brother and

So I'm I'm I'm for me, I'm not a believer in the two households because there just so many different things happen, right? the rules, the you know what you can do, what you can't do, you know, just the dynamic, you know what I mean? Like, and so I was just so used to my mom. I'm a mama's boy.

Bernard Pollard7:50

And uh my father, I love my father. I love him. Love him. And uh he was just different.

Bernard Pollard7:57

And so it's just, you know, going through that, I didn't want to play football. A lot of people always ask me about like, "Yo, Bernard, like you dreamed about this or whatever, but like my father wanted me to play football and and I loved learning about football." And I tell people all the time, I'm like, "Yo, at a for these kids at a young age, like I watched inside the NFL."

Bernard Pollard8:16

I grew up a Bears fan.

Bernard Pollard8:17

And I watched, you know, just all the different films, uh, just how players moved, how they talked, how they played the game, just the intensity that they brought to the game. and and uh you know that's where I learned and and so football was essentially because it was a split household and then when I did have to go with my dad I played because my dad he grew me as a quarterback and once I started to get older I was just like I'm playing to stay away from home.

Bernard Pollard8:47

So I play sports to not come home.

Bernard Pollard8:50

And you know I didn't I never ever and I tell people this all the time. I never ever loved the game of football. I just played it. I didn't fall in love with the game of football until my second year in the National Football League.

So, it's just one of those things, man, where I I I found out I wanted to be like a fireman, a cop. I wanted to to do radio. Um, that's what I wanted to do. And so, it was easy when I went to Purdue University. I was like, yo, I like they was like, you know, you want to be a communications major and all this other stuff. And I was just like, what is that?

So, I went into that

And I was like, that's up my alley cuz that's what I enjoy, right? And so, you know, dude, like I fell in love with the game my second year in the National Football League. Herm Edwards is my head coach and and uh you know, I look back and I'm just like, "Wow, I literally just played this game to stay away from home and found out I was really good."

Bernard Pollard9:43

Right. You know, and I played basketball. I ran track from Indiana. Everybody plays basketball or whatever. So,

That's a lot without saying a lot about my upbringing.

Bernard Pollard9:52

Because I was caught off guard.

Bernard Pollard10:30

Track, I was I was long jump 100, 200, 4x1, and was really good. And you know, as I was playing football, obviously I played football and played basketball. So playing football as I got older, I mean, I was 60 lbs my freshman year.

Yeah. Um, and then I went to like 179 my sophomore year and then 18.0. So after

Bernard Pollard10:50

Yes. So my father and them, they all were bodybuilders. Uh, you know, they had a gym, you know. So my uncle, my dad, they all lift weights. My dad played linebacker, played running back. My uncle played linebacker and running back.

And so I was always around weights. So, you know, lifting and everything else was essential. you know, it was a must, you know, but at the same time getting that weight, I wasn't able to keep my speed because it was just one of those things where I was just getting bigger and everybody else was smaller that I was running against, right? So, those were the events. I went to state every year in high school. I loved it. Uh, I enjoyed running. It was just it was

I hated the training, but, you know, just the oneonone in that lane, competing with myself, but competing with others at the same time was just so much fun.

Bernard Pollard11:46

So, it's it's funny because um you know, I was I think I got a I think I may have gotten three or four offers in high school for basketball. For track, I got about 10 to 12 offers uh for

Bernard Pollard12:07

In track it was all it was is it's smaller school. I had a couple Ball State had a couple smaller schools when it came to track and basketball. But football everybody was after me.

I was one of those ones where you know as I said before when I played football I played to stay away from home.

Yeah. I took a lot of I was a wild man on the field

Because I I I had I didn't know how to deal with my anger.

Bernard Pollard12:36

So the football field was where I released it.

I wasn't a kid who got in trouble. You know, we had fun in high school. I was I was there every day. I did what I was supposed to do. But I had anger. And whether it was from my mom and my dad, uh whether I felt my mom didn't do enough to keep us uh because she had moved to Atlanta with GTE who Verizon Wireless bought over and you know end up in Atlanta. But the court system taking us

Uh from my mom to go to my dad and then just the dynamics of my dad house you know and it was just one of those things where I'm like like what do I do with this? So stepping on the for I just remember one day I remember one day and I believe it was in practice I ran somebody ran a route and I tell my son this I tell my son I tell other athletes this all the time like do not your teammates are your teammates don't you you have got to take care of them but I remember

In practice one day I just I hit somebody so hard and I just remember feeling that relief and I was just like well I'm going to try this in the game and I remember I think it was my sophomore year cuz I was a hard hitter. But my sophomore year is where I kind of took off

And I played corner and safety and and somebody ran around

And I hit a guy so hard he peed on himself.

Bernard Pollard13:54

He was on the ground just and I we saw the pee coming through his pants.

And I just remember I was just like that's what I want all the time.

And it that fed me. That literally fed me. And and and so my anger was through pads. I when I laced them up, when I put the helmet on, I was going to make somebody feel my pain.

Bernard Pollard14:16

And um every game I would put two to three people out a game.

And so, you know, you had where IU, Purdue, then you had Alabama, you had all kind of schools. They they're seeing it. And now they're contacting my coaches. And I'm looking like

I don't I'm just doing this.

Bernard Pollard16:18

We were okay. We competed. We had 13 to 15 high schools in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Bernard Pollard16:23

And so, yeah. So, we competed. Uh, we were 4A, if I'm not mistaken. U, we were a 4A school. Uh we lost to we were los to Homestead who was a big powerhouse school.

Bernard Pollard16:40

Oh yeah. So you have Yeah, we have multiple kids D1. We got quite a few kids in the NFL from Fort Wayne. Um you know so the feeder system there is it's it's amazing. And you look now I think they've kind of shrunk down. I think it's probably 8 to 10 high schools now. They've shut down a couple but you know they're traveling now uh out of town to play teams. Um, so that's what it was. You know what I mean? Like that was my that was my escape and and that's how I ended up going to college and playing football.

Bernard Pollard17:10

I knew I was mad about situations with my mom and my dad, you know, how my dad treated my mom and

What the court system was doing. I knew I was angry. I didn't know how to voice it.

Yeah. My father was a big time why you crying and and I'm I'm like that in a sense

Where it was like why you crying?

Bernard Pollard17:36

And I'm like you know so I never cried. There's very few times where I can where I can tell you I've cried.

Bernard Pollard17:46

Cuz I'm not an emotional person. I just get angry.

Bernard Pollard17:49

And so I didn't know how to deal with it. And so with my father, it was just I never talked to him about that. It my father and I didn't have the relationship where you know like now

I talked [clears throat] to him the other day. we just was was talking and he said, "I love you." Right? And I said, "I love you back." Right? Like, but growing up, it wasn't it wasn't that,

You know, my mom was in Atlanta, so she was doing everything she could to try to help and to do whatever. But, you know, I just knew I wanted to be with my mom, but then at the same time, you know, my mom always asked me, she's like, "Bernard, why why don't you come to Atlanta a lot? You know, why don't you come to Georgia?" And I'm like, you know, mom, that's the place that broke us apart.

Bernard Pollard18:35

When you accepted the job, that broke our family apart.

Bernard Pollard18:39

And so, and it's crazy cuz I I I I like I could feel myself getting emotional, right? But it was just one of those things like where

It was like, man, like for that because of that, it was like I was create not I won't say created, but it it created something in me.

Bernard Pollard18:57

Yeah.

So, yeah. Counselors, we ain't believe in that. talking to people, emotions. We ain't believe in that. You just held it in and go about your day.

Bernard Pollard21:15

That my wife's the same way and I'm the same way. I'm like, uh, but no, I mean, I've learned,

Bernard Pollard21:28

She's awesome.

Bernard Pollard21:33

So, I actually, to be honest, I committed to IU. I wanted to stay in Indiana. I wanted to stay close to my mother's family and my and and I mean I was my my father I wanted him to be around. Yeah. I wanted him to be there. So I I I picked IU. My dad went my me and my dad we went on the visit and uh they had just hired Jerry Donardo out of LSU. So he's there at at IU and we go to a basketball game.

I think it was assembly hall. And I was just like I told my dad I was like, "Dad, I'm about to commit." I was like, "I want to be here." Isn't it for a high school kid going to see a division one school? You're just like,

Bernard Pollard22:11

I loved it.

Bernard Pollard22:14

I absolutely I absolutely loved it. And so I was just like, you know, I was like, "Dad, I'm going to come here." He was he was like, "Hey,

You might want to think about this." He was like, "This is a new head coach." He was like, you know,

They [snorts] haven't had a lot of success here, but you know, I was like, "Well, Dad, I'm going to come in and I'm going to be here for 3 years. I'm not thinking about that." Right? So he was like, "Just hold off." So that was, you know, that was a great

Bernard Pollard22:41

That was the first school as far as me, you know, going. So I I went to Michigan State. I went to Michigan.

I knew I did not want to go to Michigan with Ly Carr. Um I knew I didn't want to go to uh Michigan State. That's when they just finished with uh TJ Ducket was there and they're doing some great things there. And then I ended up going to Purdue. I went to a Purdue game. They played Ohio State. I was supposed to go to Ohio State. I think was it next week? We had just lost a playoff game my senior year. Uh they flew me on a private plane to from Yeah.

Straight out of high school. I'm musty as all get out. They go put me on a private plane

And we fly from my we played my Southside. We I flew from Muny to West Lafayette

And I get to the hotel. My dad end up driving to Purdue. I shower up and and uh we go to the game the next day. Um

Bernard Pollard23:45

Of course, you know, we had that back then. But it was just one of those things. I'm like, and it it [clears throat] was it was more or less one time that I cried knowing I was I would never ever play with my high school teammates again. I bought like a baby on the football field, right? But then they had to hurry up and rush me to the to the airport to get on a plane.

And so it didn't even dawn to me like it didn't even hit me. I'm on a private plane by myself to go to Purdue University, right? And so I flew we flew there. Like I said, I showered

And we go to Purdue and Coach Tiller, you know, him and all the other coaches. So we sitting there and and bro when I say it was almost like I was at home like I felt good with the guys that I was talking to all the recruits like we all are still cool. So my class that was there and uh Purdue and the Blues in at the last second they threw a fade and I won't ever forget that threw a fade and yeah so Purdue loses the game.

We went out that night. I was kicked it, chill, and the next day I was just like, "This is where I want to be." And so I ended up uh committing to Purdue and I I went I went to college with a plan. I was like, "I'm going with a plan. I know I'm going to be here for three years." And that's what it was.

Bernard Pollard25:01

So I planned on playing for uh playing three years and going to the league. I always my my

Bernard Pollard25:06

So I I don't I don't know if y'all did it, but in eighth grade, we had to do time capsules. So, we had to write what we were going to be in. Like, I think it was like 5 years or whatever it was, we had to you take it, you put it in the thing, and you bury it.

So, at the end of graduation, your senior year, you would come back and, uh, dig it up.

So, mine said, um, I was going to be, cuz like I said, I was groomed as a quarterback. Mine said I was going to be the starting quarterback for Florida State University, stayed there three years, and get drafted in the first round.

So, I was at Purdue University playing safety, stayed for three years, I got drafted in the second round by the Kansas City Chiefs. So, it was just one of those things where, you know, I thank God because I'm like, dude, and I wish I can get that. They So, they told me one of the girls that we went to high school or eighth grade, middle school, in high school with, she got my she got it and she won't give it back. So, give me give me my stuff back.

But, nevertheless, it's just it's amazing. But yeah, so I was there. I did not graduate. I went to went to summer school every year. So, I'm still still off uh as far as from graduating. I can go back and do it. And I'm I'm I'm reluctant to do it.

Bernard Pollard26:08

Do it, man.

I know.

Bernard Pollard26:13

Do it for the kids.

The ring I've never worn before.

Bernard Pollard26:48

You know? So, and this is a godsending truth. I um I don't even know who took me to Purdue. I don't know who dropped me off. I do not I don't remember it cuz So,

Must have been in July, right? Cuz you could have a training camp. I got dropped off cuz I I took summer classes. So, I was there right when So, right when I graduated, I think I was gone maybe a week or so after. I don't know who took me.

Bernard Pollard27:12

So, my freshman year, I played around bull crapped around my sophomore bull crap around my first my the first semester of my sophomore year. And a guy uh named Eddie Nolan, he's like a father to me. He literally would beat me with a Billy. He had a Billy club and so he would chase me around and was like, "Bernard, you going you you you are going to be here. You're going to do what you need to do." And and he just it's like he was just on me.

Bernard Pollard27:44

So, you know, playing around my freshman year going into my sophomore year, um the second semester or the second half of my sophomore year, I just got it together and I just started doing what I was supposed to do. And so I end up finishing with a, you know, I'm not proud of it, but a high 2 point high two. I finished with a 2.8, 2.9. So

Bernard Pollard28:06

Yeah. Academic school. I scored over I think I scored, 1100, I believe it was on my SAT.

So, you know, I did all of that and and I did. So I I just I thank Coach Nolan. I thank Coach Puit because they literally beat me. They would pull me aside if I got in trouble. They will one of them will behold me. other one would be punching me and not and not fall, you know, but they made sure I felt it, but they loved on me. And so me and coach still laugh about that. I talked to him almost every day. So we still laugh about that, but nevertheless, so I I end up at at Purdue.

I don't know who dropped me off. As soon as I took my bag out the car, I I stepped on the sidewalk and I said, "So I'm going to be here 3 years

And I'm I'm get I'm going to do what I need to do. I'm going to be here 3 years and I'm getting out." And so when I got there, man, it was uh my grades. I was showing up to class. I was doing what I was supposed to do. But I knew I was focused. I had a plan and I was not gonna let anybody mess that up. I was going to start as a true freshman and I did. I started all the way to my junior year and I declared for the draft.

Bernard Pollard29:05

Mhm.

Bernard Pollard29:08

So, people don't understand how good Purdue was. Uh my freshman year we were really good. Uh we had nine players, I believe it was, get drafted from that defense.

Bernard Pollard29:16

Um and I mean Purdue, they they call Purdue DNU for a reason. You know, they produce defensive ends. Sean Phillips. Um, you I mean, oh my gosh, Rob Nikovich,

So many dudes. Rob a Patriots, dude. So, uh, you know, but we we we've had a lot of success. My sophomore year, we ranked fourth, uh, fourth in the nation. We end up losing to freaking Wisconsin cuz Kyle just didn't slide instead of trying to dive.

Bernard Pollard29:42

Uh, Kyle Orton. So, Kyle Orton played for the Bears. He was drafted by the Bears. Uh, all he had to do was slide. All the game was won. All he had to do was slide. He tried to jump and dive, lost the ball, they ran it back for a touchdown. We end up losing the game and soed.

Yeah, man. So, we lost, we lost that my junior year, we were we were okay. Um, but I knew I was gone. I was I was gone and my head coach didn't like that.

Bernard Pollard30:08

Speed of the game, size of the players.

Bernard Pollard30:10

So, a lot of people don't understand. I tell I tell high schools all the time, I'm looking like, "Yo, like you have got and that's why I'm a I'm a I'm a stickler with this." And a lot of guys when my son was in high school didn't like this. But I didn't care what you didn't like cuz I'm I'm my my son's father and I I've been through it.

I want him to understand what it's going to be like. Right. So,

For me leaving high school, we had three defensive calls.

Yeah. Going to Purdue, we had 35 defensive calls and we had it's intense. It's like it's probably more intense than your academics, right?

Bernard Pollard30:57

Yep. So we had to change stuff up. We had to, you know, uh do different things. But yeah, so

Bernard Pollard31:14

That's crazy. But no, no, that's what it is. I mean, and so I went from three plays to 35 or more plays. And you know, for me, I was just like, you know what? Like I knew who I was as a player. I was hardnosed. I'm going to pursue everything. And if you come in my area, I'm gonna knock the piss out of you. And so, you know, I was just a hard-nosed player. I didn't care. If you buck, I buck, too. Yeah. And so, you know, the coaches loved it, the players loved it, and and Purdue, we had another safety in Steuart Swagert who was he was a middlefield safety who would intercept anything out of the air.

Bernard Pollard31:50

They wanted to bring on a hammer.

They needed a hammer. And I'm like, that's who I am. And so, you know, from my freshman year, I'm I would dog walk you. [snorts] And I was trying to see, like I said, I was trying to see that John Deere come out and pick you up.

Bernard Pollard32:16

Yeah, exactly. Closing.

Bernard Pollard32:52

I mean to to be honest, I didn't care.

Bernard Pollard32:58

No. Well, well, because you know, one of the biggest things is, you know, I coached my son all the way up to his ninth grade year.

Yeah. I wanted my son I wanted to be a father and just watch him play, right?

Because I coached him. He's been around football since he was born.

Bernard Pollard33:14

And you know, and from me coaching him from a young age from 707 to uh Blaze to Sunset to and then letting him go in middle school in high school, you know, I just wanted to be able to be like, "Okay, let me just watch."

So it's freshman year I was

I'm I'm in the stands. I'm watching and I'm just like, "This isn't done right." And I love I loved his freshman coach.

And I say this with all due respect and and I want people to understand, I'm not coming from a a bad place when I say this. 99% of football coaches are teachers.

Bernard Pollard33:52

Right?

They're not football coaches. They're teachers first. That's what pays the bills. football coaches, you know, when you are a football coach, you bring in the extra stipen or whatever to, you know, pay the bills. I say that with all due respect. Yeah.

I tell like I told Ravenwood, I was a football player. I I don't live in the corporate I don't I'm not in the corporate world. I I I didn't network. I don't work in the corporate world. I don't do that. Right. And you know, so after his fresh during his freshman year, I tried to go and talk to the coach and I'm like, "Hey man, you know, I'm seeing it with the freshman team, but I'm also seeing it with the varsity team. There's a lot of mistakes happening here.

Football isn't taught right." And you know, I know a lot of people look at Ravenwood and look at teams that are having success and like, "Oh, greatness is happening. The coaches them are are teaching them and this and that." Well, sometimes, you know, the teams you're playing are just bad.

Bernard Pollard34:50

You just got You got more athletes. So, when I got60 kids on the sideline compared to their 30

Bernard Pollard34:56

And they all going both ways and they're limited with the guys they can bring in and I got I got a plethora of kids over here I can pick from that ain't going to tire out.

I mean, at the end of the day, I'm just laying weight on them.

Bernard Pollard35:12

I know too much. So

Bernard Pollard35:15

So it's very threatening. So

Bernard Pollard35:22

A lot of them are in they feel entitled to the player.

Bernard Pollard35:25

And so with me I have never cursed a kid. I will never curse a kid. I've never put my hands on the kid. Will never ever do that. Right.

And so but I am very stern.

Bernard Pollard35:35

And I understand what it takes to to to to get something done. I understand how to teach it to coach it and develop it.

Yeah. A lot of coaches can't do that.

Bernard Pollard35:44

And so, you know, for them that was threatening because they know if Bernard comes in, first of all, he's going to check us on what we don't know.

Bernard Pollard35:54

He's going to teach them what they don't know, and then we're going to lose them to him.

So, we let's not bring them in.

Bernard Pollard36:00

So, from that point on, I said, "Okay, well, here I go." I told Jaylen, I said, "Look, man. I'm going to be in the stands. We're going to be here every single game. Be right here. I'm going to be right behind the defensive bench. So, when you come off the field, I'm giving you your adjustments. You know, uh I would not let him work out with the weight room with the with the uh coaches because at the end of the day, I know what's going to sustain him uh throughout the year.

Bernard Pollard36:22

I I don't need him

Lifting his heavy weight and getting hurt.

With them, you always got a lot of players getting hurt.

And when you look at that, you need to look directly at the strength coach.

I'm not doing that. So, his four years, he's never lifted with them. He would he would be there. I told I told the coaches, "Look, he's going to be here. He's not working out with y'all, but he's going to be there to support his teammates while they work out.

I just I could not I know what he wanted." And he said, "Dad, I I want to play in college. I want a chance to try to play in the National Football League. So, if my son is telling me that, who am I to deny him everything that I I know and everything that I've learned?" And I had to do it. They did not like it,

But they couldn't stop it. You know, one of the biggest things that pisses me off more than anything because I got the itch to coach Yeah.

High school football. And there were opportunities that came along, but then I was lied on and said I was arrested at a game when I've never been arrested.

Bernard Pollard37:21

The former head coach.

Bernard Pollard37:22

So he doesn't even know I know. So this is the first time I've ever said anything about it.

Bernard Pollard37:26

Because when I found out

I was heading directly up to Ravenwood to put hands on him. My wife called me and said, "Bernard, do not do that cuz you're going to go to jail."

Bernard Pollard37:35

And so, you know, it was said that I was arrested at Ravenwood during a football game and I was It said that so I was put on a do not hire list.

So, I was put on do not hire list for Williamson County and for Metro.

Bernard Pollard37:49

Why Metro?

Bernard Pollard37:50

Why Metro? Cuz you know Williamson County teams play Metro.

Bernard Pollard37:53

So, you didn't want me hired in Metro or Williamson County. So now you lied on me, black balled me, and tarnished my name.

Bernard Pollard38:01

Well, I could have went further and did some things, but I knew my son still is in high school.

Bernard Pollard38:05

He was a going into his junior year of high school.

So for me, I was just like, man, like I'm just going to I'mma coach him. I don't care what nobody say. They had people record me at games, taking it back to the coach, saying this and saying that, saying how I was disrespectful. I'm looking like I wasn't disrespectful. Yeah.

You know what I mean? Like, but you know, I'm I'm glad my son's done.

Bernard Pollard39:01

"Or go over there."

Bernard Pollard39:03

We'll just go over there.

Bernard Pollard39:05

Yeah.

Diabolical.

Bernard Pollard40:23

So, yeah, we had agents coming around. Um, so a lot of people don't know. I actually going into my junior year. I that summer I worked out with Deion Sanders in Dallas.

So, it was amazing. So, excuse me, Eugene Parker, who was from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He set it up cuz he was he was uh Dion's agent. So, Eugene, obviously, I'm from Fort Wayne. Eugene Fort Wayne. So, so he connected it to where I went out there. I stayed with a cousin of Dion's and we literally every day I was with Dion. Dion went and got lunch. I went and got lunch. Dion went to the field and train. I went and train with Dion. So Dion would always call me big fella.

Bernard Pollard41:00

So he would be like big fella, let's go.

And I'm I'm in I'm in the van with him, in the truck with him. I was at his house, all the kids running around, Shadur, all them.

What year is this? So this was 2005 going into 2005. Yep. He's still playing.

Yep. He was playing with Baltimore if I wasn't mistaken. He's playing with Baltimore if I'm not mistaken. But yeah. So yeah, an athlete, man.

Dude, he was to watch him

And I I I respect him so much. And I don't ever bring this up. I don't ever talk about it. This is the first time I'm I'm talking about it, but me being around him taught me so much. The way he carried himself in Prosper, Texas,

The way we would get done working out,

We went right to he would go to a a little restaurant or whatever. I'm talking about little mom and pop

Would [clears throat] go in and just greeted every singlebody. Loved on him. We ate lunch, ate dinner, whatever it may be. I watched him take other kids in. I watched it.

So when when when when Dion says some of the things he say, I know he ain't lying cuz

Bernard Pollard42:40

Yeah. But he was the way Dion raised them, they they were built for that.

That's they were built for that.

Bernard Pollard42:47

I want I want it all. And that's what that same thing I do for my son. Yeah.

You you everything that's on your back if they chasing you that mean you're doing some good. That's right.

But you turn around and you t they behind up.

Bernard Pollard42:56

So yeah.

Bernard Pollard43:12

I mean so after my junior year lit literally right after we play IU I think we end up losing IU. We didn't go to a bowl game cuz we went to some bowl my second year. Didn't go to a bowl game uh my junior year. Um I left immediately. left the whole campus.

I left the campus. I left and I started training. I went to Orlando, Florida and uh with so I start I started training with Tom Shaw.

So Tom Shaw was in Orlando. I started training with him right after I think it was November 27th or 28th I believe it was. Started I was there in no I was in Orlando from November all the way till March or April.

Bernard Pollard43:50

So yeah we were in and I I can't I can't it's either CMI or Kimmy. I say whichever one it is we were living we had all the players um we were all there uh we had an apartment

And Jay Cutler me and Jay was me and Jay Cutler was super cool and so he was all and he was buming rides all the time but that was my boy me him Greg um you know just so many of us out there working just worked our butt off

And uh all of I think all of us were invited to the combine went to the combine um I had an agent Joe Seagull um end up firing him um I I just

I felt like we were different,

You know, and the way that he communicated, the way he carried himself. I didn't know much coming out, right? You know, sending the facts to the head coach, you know, you had to send a fax to the head coach, letting him know you weren't declaring your senior year, letting him know you were declaring.

And when I sent my fax to to to coach Tiller, they immediately banned me from campus. Said if I ever came back,

Bernard Pollard44:52

So that was the way that things went. if you declare you send the facts to the

Bernard Pollard45:01

So let me give you a little context. So going into my junior year, Coach Hiller and I fell out.

Bernard Pollard45:08

We fell out and he was like a father to me. The first white man to tell me he loved me. Yeah.

And I truly believe it. I I mean coach

Bernard Pollard45:17

Uh we did. We did have a lot of white kids.

Bernard Pollard45:20

Yeah. So, I mean, we had white, black, Hispanic, you know, uh,

Bernard Pollard45:31

Oh, lower lower. So, I mean, we, you know, from Bosnian to everything is in Fort Wayne.

And so, you know, I always grew up around everybody. my my grandmother babysat white kids. So, you know, and so

Me seeing somebody different made no, you know, it didn't affect me at all because I I I saw it, you know, but

You know, going to Purdue, it was one of those things where Coach Schiller when I heard a white man say, "I love you." I'm looking like, "Oh, snaps." Cuz I didn't so much get close enough like that.

Bernard Pollard45:59

To hear those words. Everything was, you know, if I saw my teammates's dad, them, oh, they were cool. Hey, Bernard, what's up? You know, we would go to a house or whatever it may be. But to get close enough to say, "I love you."

That was like, "Oh, snaps." But then I saw it. I knew he did.

Bernard Pollard46:15

So, I tell people all the time, I don't question if that was true.

I do. We We got into it going into my junior year. So,

What about it was

Bernard Pollard46:38

So it was we had a steak and bean scrimmage.

Bernard Pollard46:42

And so it was first team offense versus first team defense. And I've always It was intense. So we looking like, bro, we not eating beans. We eating steak tonight. So I didn't I never had steak until I got to college. I didn't know what steak was, bro. We didn't know what steak was. You know what I mean? Like, bro, had no idea. So according to my junior year, you know, we we're we got to scrimmage and they hand the ball off and so I'm inserting, we in a buzz.

I'm in I'm in certain and the running back didn't even get to his old lineman. I hit him so hard and so fast

And coach Hiller said first down

And it was like they needed one yard four for one

And we all sitting there like what? And coach is an offensive line coach or whatever. So I'm looking like oh heck no. I'm like no that was a that was turnover on downs. He never even touched the the the line of scrimmage.

Bernard Pollard47:30

So coach was like, "First down." And we all sitting there like, "No, bro. You're cheating."

Bernard Pollard47:35

So we're sitting there, me and him. He was just like, "I said first down." So I go, "I said it's not a first down." So we went back and forth and he was just like, he said, "You know what? Get the get the heck off my field." And I said, "Screw it." I took my pants off, threw them, and I said, "Give me my papers and saying I was on transfer." Yeah. So I had to walk a long walk. So we're about a half a little over half a mile from where we practice at to the locker room to Monaco.

So I walk back, he banned me from the media for 8 weeks.

So banned me from the media for 8 weeks.

Bernard Pollard48:12

Oh yes. And so

Cuz that's something I would do and then be like, why am I such an idiot? I gotta control myself.

Yeah. And that that was the first time me and him that has ever happened between us. Yeah. And and I tell people all the time, Coach Tiller, like I was a freshman. Coach Tiller didn't allow anybody. He would allow Steuart Swiger, the other safety.

Coach Tiller allowed me in his office. I mean, which he knew I had a hard-nosed coach and Philian, defensive back coach, who cussed me out every single day before practice, after practice, pregame, postgame,

During the game. He cussed me out. And I remember asking coach Phil, I was like, "Why? Why? Why did you talk to me like that?" Yeah.

He was like, "Dude, I did it because I knew who you were." He's like, "I know what." He's like, "Bernard, you are a thumper."

He was like, "You can do things that I've never seen people do."

So, I needed to keep you mot. He ended up leaving. So, then, you know, uh, Coach Anarumo end up coming in, who was totally opposite of Philation, but nevertheless, Coach Schiller and I, man, that happening, I was just like, dude, like, I I should

I should have went to him and talked it out, but I thank God that I got an opportunity right before he died. um some about I think it was four, five years ago maybe and

Bernard Pollard49:25

And he said, "Bernard, I'm sorry."

Bernard Pollard49:27

And I just cry like a baby on the phone.

And I said, "Coach, I'm sorry."

Bernard Pollard49:36

I am very sensitive. So, I had to learn. I had to learn like my wife would be like, "Aar, like you can't be cutthroat. You can't be a hard butt all the time."

Yeah. And so after I gave my life to Christ, man, I was just like, dude, like I got to be emotional.

Bernard Pollard49:54

Because if I'm if I'm this hard-hearted person all the time, man, I'm like, I can't, you know, people can't see the love of Christ through me, right? And I can't, you know, not showing those emotions

Bernard Pollard50:09

You know, and so, you know, I've tried to be more emotional.

Bernard Pollard50:15

No, of course. But you know what I mean? Like it's got to take something for me to cry.

Bernard Pollard50:48

Oh, yeah. All day.

Bernard Pollard50:53

Right.

Bernard Pollard50:58

He's pissed.

Bernard Pollard50:59

And um and once again, we still didn't we still have not communicated. You know, I left I left campus, so I didn't even tell him. I just sent him a fax.

Yeah. And so they sent me a letter saying if him and AD uh Morgan um Bert sent me a a fax and said if you come back to campus we're going to have you arrested for trespassing.

Bernard Pollard51:21

Yeah. So my proday was across from Mikov. So where Malikov was there was a high school I think it was I think it was West Lafayette High School if I'm not mistaken.

Bernard Pollard51:34

So West Lafayette High School. My pro day was outside on their field, 13 degree weather. 18 team 18 teams came to watch me. I had to run. I had to do everything. My pro day. So all of my

So me and Ray Edwards were the only two juniors. Now Ray declared Ray Edwards declared for the draft was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons.

He was able to go and do his proday in the indoor at Mikov.

I had I was the only one. So, a couple my teammates, a few of my teammates came over there

And uh watched and just supported, but I didn't understand it. And I was young,

You know, I was drafted at 20.

Bernard Pollard52:10

So, yeah. So, I was just like, dude, like, you know, why are you cutting me off from being with my teammates? And I gave you blood, sweat, and tears here.

Bernard Pollard52:19

And, you know, gave you everything that I had, you know, and I didn't understand. Uh, but like I said, it was just one of those things where

For me, you know, that built animosity. Yeah.

Between me and Purdue because I I could tell you I've been to back to Purdue

Maybe twice.

Bernard Pollard52:36

Since leaving.

Bernard Pollard52:37

My junior year, I've only been back twice.

Bernard Pollard52:40

I want you to bring your kids there and have them be like, "Oh, dude, let's bring Paul here. What the

Yeah, it's crazy. But like I said, I I I thank God that I got opportunity to communicate with Coach Diller. Um, obviously they've had multiple head coaches since, you know, uh, you know, since he he left, but it's just that's life.

Bernard Pollard53:00

You know what I mean? Like that's life. It sucks. And I wish things would have been better, but you know, it is what it is.

Bernard Pollard53:15

So I fired my agent and I end up going I end up representing myself.

Bernard Pollard53:20

Yep. I represented myself. So, it was one of those things, man, where, you know, for me, I was like, dude, I'mma learn the language. I know what I want. I know who I am. [snorts]

You know, who can better sell me than me?

Bernard Pollard53:32

Right. And and I was still cool with Eugene. Eugene Parker. Uh me and his sons, we play basketball against each other throughout high school.

So, he was somebody who I can call and if I needed help with something, he would help.

But, uh

Bernard Pollard53:58

It's crazy.

Bernard Pollard54:27

Yeah. And we had the NFL program, boilerplate stuff, you know, getting

Yeah. We had the NFL PA had lawyers, so, you know, I had a specific guy who I went to all the time, you know, when it came to contracts.

So, I was covered from that standpoint. And, you know, I knew all the language, the verbiage to everything. So, I was I was cool with it and I was happy with the decision.

Bernard Pollard54:50

So, we're in Fort Wayne. We had a um you know, pops.

My No, so my my dad wasn't there. Me and my me and my dad fell out. It there was there was a lot, you know, with that situation, right? You know, cuz I end up leaving my dad house my going into my senior year. Um I left my dad house. I went with my auntie. Okay.

My mom's sister. So, um, you know, when I had my draft party, uh, it was my mom's side of the family only and I had a couple friends, uh, that came through, but, you know, we were we had a a clubhouse and, uh, that's when I think they did all four rounds, three or four rounds in one day and then did the rest on Sunday.

Bernard Pollard55:34

I didn't see Yeah, I did not see my dad to be honest with you. I still haven't [gasps] It's crazy. And I thank God and I could talk about it because you know I think we're [snorts] better off now. Yeah. But we just me and my dad we are almost the same

And then you know just the things that have happened in life.

Bernard Pollard55:54

Right. And so it was just my dad wasn't there. My other sisters from my father and my brother wasn't there. Uh we all just kind of just separated.

Bernard Pollard56:05

And um I just remember I I saw my dad one time. He came to one game. We played Cleveland.

Bernard Pollard56:12

Him and my brother came to Cleveland.

Bernard Pollard56:15

And I saw I saw my dad in Cleveland.

That was probably one of the only times I think I've seen my dad twice.

Bernard Pollard56:23

Since that time, and that was in 201 10.

Bernard Pollard57:15

Yeah.

Bernard Pollard57:22

Drafted. So, I thought I was going to take you

Miami. Miami told me they were going to draft me in the first round.

Bernard Pollard57:37

No, it it for me I I I just want to play football.

Bernard Pollard57:41

For me, I'm I'm I'm kind of to the point where I'm like, "Okay, Miami was like, "Yo, I'm taking you." They end up taking Jason Allen in the first round.

So, we sitting there. So, I purposely didn't go New Orleans. Um that was right after Katrina. New Orleans wanted me to come. New England wanted me to come. They were like, "Hey, New England. They potenti we might take you in the first, but they end up taking Lawrence Moroni.

Bernard Pollard58:06

Out of Minnesota.

Bernard Pollard58:08

And um I was just like I didn't go on my visit to either one of those teams. I actually I went on my visit to New England. I left.

Bernard Pollard58:16

I was I did not like the vibe there.

Bernard Pollard58:19

Bichc. I walked in I remember walking into the stadium. I remember walking in into the facility, walked into his office and he started talking. I was just like I do not like this dude.

Like I'm literally sitting there. I was like, I do not like this dude. And

Bernard Pollard58:34

I know, right? And so we end up leaving. We end up leaving uh or I I get done with my meeting with him. And the conversation between me and him, I was just sitting there looking like this dude is weird.

Bernard Pollard58:45

And so I was just like whatever. So when I left out of his office, I was supposed to go somewhere else with the people walking around facility. I was like, "No, I'm going to leave." And so I left. So, um, you know, but New Orleans end up taking, uh, Roman Harper out of Alabama and Kansas City took me.

And so, um,

Bernard Pollard59:05

Yeah. So, they called, I ended up talking to Carl Peterson.

Um, what's he say? He was just like, hey, he's like, Bernard is like, we want to bring your physical nature here. He's like, we want everything you have here. So, I was like, okay. I said, I'm I'm I'm coming. And so, I talked to Coach Edwards. I talked to Coach Gibbs, my DB coach, who I absolutely adore. Yeah.

And uh we end up I end up going to Kansas City a day later and you know, me, Tamba Ali, we we we were there and he was a first round pick out of Penn State and you know, obviously I'm out of Purdue, so we just have a good time. I absolutely I loved my time there. It was different,

But I loved my time there.

Bernard Pollard59:47

So I was there. So that's another thing

Bernard Pollard59:53

So a lot of people

Bernard Pollard59:58

That's what it is. So So I was there three.

Bernard Pollard1:00:01

So I was there three. Um my first year I played a little bit. They had Greg Wesley and Sammy Knight and uh me and Jared Paige came in. They drafted Jared out of UCLA in the seventh round which which he was drafted out for baseball. MLB drafted him as well.

So me and him came in together and we was like, "Yo, we going to start, we going to take their positions. We going to do this, do that." And then quickly find out what the NFL is different, you know, and so what was so different, you know, for me where I was just so used to in college everywhere we went, you know what I mean? Like when we got done with football, we went back to the dorms.

Bernard Pollard1:00:36

When we got done with football sophomore year, we went back to Hilltop. Yeah.

We all lived in the same place all the time. Yeah.

So when I got to the National Football League, it was like, wo, when we're done with practice, everybody going home to their families.

And I was like, dude, this is different.

And so that was hard for me. I'm sure

Because I was just so used to that brotherhood, us sticking together. And everybody like, "Oh, bro, I got four kids. I got a teammate getting arrested for throwing a chicken wing at his wife. I got I'm" I'm like, "Bro, what in the world is going on here?" So it it was just one of those things where I was just like, "Wow." So,

Bernard Pollard1:01:20

So, Lamont Winston was amazing. So, Lamont um his wife is

Bernard Pollard1:01:26

So, he was Yeah, he was he was on the Well, he was a coach. Yeah.

Shouldn't say a coach. He was with player player personnel. Okay.

And so, I shouldn't say player personnel. Lamont was with player development.

Development. So he was with player development and Lamont took me under his wing. So from I'm talking about we're at his house, me and Megan at his house. We watched his kids Cameron and Alana grow up. You know what I mean? His wife was a lawyer. Just amazing. They were amazing.

Bernard Pollard1:01:55

So Megan and I were were we were together.

Bernard Pollard1:01:59

She went to uh Indiana State. She played volleyball for Indiana State. So she gave up her scholarship her senior going into her senior year to come and live in Kansas City with me.

Bernard Pollard1:02:13

She transferred to KU and lost a bunch of her credits because she left Indiana State

And to go to a university which it end up she ended up losing a lot of her credits. So she commuted to uh KU every day to finish classes.

So while I was at camp and everything else, she was commuting back and

No kids. No kids. So, you know, it was just one of the things we we're at what just turned 21 years old. We're buying a house.

Bernard Pollard1:02:37

Yeah. We were buying a house at 21. We're trying to get all this stuff situated and and you know, so that was our life.

Bernard Pollard1:02:44

And you know, so being in Kansas City, man, it was just it was amazing. I I loved it. Uh first year went through whatever we went through with the team. Got I blocked the punt. We got into the playoffs with that block punt. Played Indianapolis and quickly went home, you know. So going so going into our second year.

Bernard Pollard1:03:06

First NFL training camp was football.

Bernard Pollard1:03:11

Yeah. I mean, I'm walking. I'm I'm hitting.

Bernard Pollard1:03:23

The bigger adjustment was high school to college.

Bernard Pollard1:03:27

Yeah. The biggest thing in the NFL was everything was so precise in the NFL.

Bernard Pollard1:03:42

So, it it was I mean you when when I tell people this all the time and the same thing I try to tell coaches, you know, and I tell like for coaches, stop comparing high school kids to NFL players.

That is that gap is so large. Don't do that to them. these kids need a foundation. And so when you talk about the NFL, when I when I got to the NFL, it's just like, "Oh, snaps." Like I'm like, "Oh, okay." Like the quarterbacks

Literally if it's a certain route, you're not going to see air on that ball. That ball is being zipped.

And then you know where in college sometime that ball came off a little bit and you had a chance, you ain't have no shot.

And then you had

Defensive line linemen running it just as fast as you did. Yeah. You had offensive linemen, they going, they knew where to block, who to block, how to block all the time.

And so, you know,

Bernard Pollard1:04:30

And that's what they were mean.

Bernard Pollard1:04:33

Oh, yeah.

Bernard Pollard1:04:44

Yeah, he was. Yeah. So, we were actually teammates in in uh Tennessee, but no, it was Yeah. So, I mean, just the game was just so precise.

Bernard Pollard1:04:55

Professional.

Bernard Pollard1:04:57

All professional. So, the camps and everything, I mean, freaking

Bernard Pollard1:05:02

I didn't play it,

Bernard Pollard1:05:06

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, I I remember one night we went and I'm not a drinker. I don't I don't smoke. Don't drink. Um, we end up going, they want to go to a bar. And so my rookie year, we got Tyaw came from New England. So, Tyaw is there. We got Patrick Certain, which all those guys are super cool. I love Pat, you know, saw his son grow up right in front of us. Um, but we had a couple other guys. Um, you know, we go and and they they they rung up and invited other people, all these women.

And, you know, it rung up like a $45,000 bill for the rookies.

For the rookies. And I I'm sitting there and I'm playing pool. And so I remember Paige told me,

Bernard Pollard1:05:49

So they they was like, "Hey guys, we going out." So we lived in Overland Park. Yeah.

So a lot of the guys lived in Overland Park. And so some of the other guys that didn't, they live probably 10, 15 minutes away. So they came. We all met at this bar in Overland Park.

So uh I remember we were playing pool and I'm like, you know, you know, they was like, "Hey, the Bill came and and I remember I'm not going to say the name. He said, um, he said, "Send that check to the rookies." And Paige was like, "Bernard," he was like, "This bill is expensive." So they were trying to stick me with the 45,000. And then just me with the 45,000. That's why I would say no.

So I was sitting there and I go,

Bernard Pollard1:06:25

Right. I'm sitting there and I'm like uh I was like, "What is like I don't drink." So I'm like, "What is all of this?" And the waitress is like, "Oh, that's liquor." I was like, "I'm not paying for that."

Bernard Pollard1:06:35

And so then a couple of guys, older guys, veterans was like, "Yeah, you are." I was like, "I will fight every one of y'all." And I'm not playing you. Yeah. I I will fight every single one of y'all. I go, "All them women that just drank this liquor, all those other people that just ate this food, I go, they're paying for it."

I was like, "I'm not paying for it." And I said, "I'll beat the piss out of them, too."

And so we sitting there with and they started taking everybody's check and giving it to them. I was like, "I'm not paying for that." Yeah.

You know, now Herm would not let me. Herm always, he said, "Bernard, your rookie year." He said, "When we get on this plane, I need my hot uh crispy cream donuts." And I had to get Cracker Barrel.

Bernard Pollard1:07:28

Oh, yeah. But no, that was that was a night where I think all of them were mad at me. I told him, I said, "I'll fight the I I will fight all of y'all." They're not drinking. I was like, "Dude, I'm not doing this."

Bernard Pollard1:07:44

If we do. And we did do a couple uh uh DB dinners. And I get that.

We I'll pay for the dinner. But we got 40 people.

Bernard Pollard1:07:56

Yeah. Get the

Bernard Pollard1:07:58

It's all public knowledge.

Bernard Pollard1:08:14

Yeah so bonus sign I remember my first check I remember um and the the chiefs actually messed my check up

So they gave me a check for $787,000

Bernard Pollard1:08:27

Signing bonus

Bernard Pollard1:08:29

So I get that and then eyes bug out like

I was like yo

Bernard Pollard1:08:33

Yeah. I was like yo like this is crazy. So then I end up they had to give me another check because accounting had messed something up.

So I get another check but then I'm like figuring out like taxes and everything.

Bernard Pollard1:08:48

Yeah it was it was insane. But you know that was dude I I was just sitting back like wow. You know what I mean? cuz like coming out, you know, you can do a line of credit or whatever it may be, you know, and I I did I got a line of credit. I got a car [snorts]

And uh paid all I paid that back and everything else.

Bernard Pollard1:09:06

Oh gosh, bro. It was ridiculous. But it it like I was just like never again. So

Bernard Pollard1:09:19

Yeah, [clears throat] man. So it was crazy. It was crazy just seeing the numbers. But, you know, I'm not I'm not a flashy person, right? Like, I'm not flashy. I just, you know, I was I was grateful. Um, you know, I was dumb at the same time because I just the upbringing I didn't

I didn't have the upbringing.

Bernard Pollard1:09:38

You know, cuz we didn't have money, right? So, you know, I made a lot of bad decisions,

You know. So,

Bernard Pollard1:10:33

Yeah.

Bernard Pollard1:10:38

Right. Right. Right.

Bernard Pollard1:10:45

Yeah. So, I mean, she was we were like I said, we're both young, 21.

Yeah. So, you know, we were just kind of we were living. Yeah.

And then we end up having my son and and like I said, we were we were in Kansas City what two more years and I it was my second year

Where I remember Herm Edwards like I just I just remember I was in there. I'm studying. I'm I'm watching a film and he was just like he was like he called me in his office and he was just like hey he's like Bernard he said um you haven't even cracked who you are yet as a player. He's like dude you're a great kid. He's like you haven't even touched who you are. He was like I want you to start doing a couple things different. He's like I want to you know so start challenging me in practice and everything else.

And I remember I I went out and I was just start doing more and more things and practice maintenance with my body and watching you know my food because going into my second year we had got pregnant and you know I ballooned up to 250.

Bernard Pollard1:11:42

So when Megan was eating I was eating.

So I got to 250 cuz my walkound weight I can carry 240 245 easy. Yeah. And so when I got up to 250, I remember uh coach said it weighed me in. And so he went and told coach uh Edwards, "Coach Edwards, chew me out in his office." He was like, "You haven't even cracked who you are." So I just I got the weight off me and um [clears throat] just started preparing different and then that's when I fell in love with the game.

Bernard Pollard1:12:08

And from that point on, I was like, "Dude, I'm I'm attacking this so different now." you know, just with my approach to study and my approach to taking notes, my approach to practice and my approach to eating, my approach to playing the game, it was so different. And so my coach, Coach Gibb, saw it and I mean other players saw it and it was just it wasn't even a question. So, you know, going through those next two years in Kansas City and then when they fired her, like I was just like, dang.

And so, you know, after everything happened, well, so year two was when the Brady situation happened.

Yeah. Explain what happened on the play. Hey man, quarterback tried or not the running back tried to cut me, you know, I'm blitzing. I'm coming through the hole, which he was my guy. So if he's blocking, I can insert and blitz.

So he cut me and so once he

Bernard Pollard1:12:54

He tried to take my legs out, you know, to where cuz if he would have tried to stay up, I think it was Morris or whatever his name was,

Bernard Pollard1:13:00

Yeah. So I would have I would have ran right through him. Yeah. So, it was better for him to do that than cut me because I'm like, you put me on the ground now as I'm trying to get to Brady, you know, where I launched and Brady was at my knees, I'm launching to get and tackle him. Well, Brady was actually stepping to throw the pass down the football field.

And when I hit his knee, you know, and I tell people all the time, you know, that ask me about it.

Bernard Pollard1:13:28

I heard it. I mean, he released the ball, but I heard the scream. I knew it was no good. So, I actually flipped over

And got up and like looked back and I was just like, "Yeah, he's done."

And so, you know, it was just one of those things where it it sucks. It it sucks that it it happened. Um that that wasn't my intention,

Bernard Pollard1:13:48

You know what I mean? You never want to really hurt anybody. I mean, you want to knock them down and take a play off but not injure them.

If I hit you and and and we're going to hit up, I'm trying to put you out. Yeah, like I'm just a hard-nosed player like that, you know? I love the players that I watched growing up, you know, and the the the the

The way that they played the game. When I hit you, I work out for a reason. I train

To hit and explode the way that I do for a reason. So, running backs, receivers, whoever it is, when I hit you, I expect to knock the piss out of you. Whatever happens with me knocking the piss out of you, that's what happens. that situation, me hit him in the leg, I don't ever want anybody to go out like that, right? But that's what happened.

So, it it it sucked. But, you know, when they brought after they fired everybody in the staff from uh going after my third year,

Bernard Pollard1:14:39

They end up bringing in Scott PI

From New England.

Bernard Pollard1:14:43

Well, when Scott Pioli came in, Scott came so he had a presser. He did everything in the facility. Came directly in. He had all the media and everybody walking behind him. He w I was sitting out. I just got done working out for offseason. He came to my uh locker and he he bent down and he said, "Bernard," he said, "I'mma cut you for what you did to Tom." And I was like, "He knew you didn't do that on purpose, right?"

But that's [ __ ] that was that that was He was the poster child. So, literally, he I got cut right after.

Bernard Pollard1:15:28

Yeah. Yeah. See, really poor. That was a vicious vicious hit.

Bernard Pollard1:15:36

So, it's just, you know, that's that's that's the business.

Bernard Pollard1:15:42

Mhm.

Bernard Pollard1:15:44

So, Scott Pioli, he brought in Todd Haley. Todd Haley brought Todd Haley in from I forget where Todd Haley came from, but nevertheless, he cut me, fired the staff. I went to Houston with uh Coach Gibbs was my DB coach.

Bernard Pollard1:16:00

So, I'm in Houston. I get to Houston uh start there immediately. Was there I they had my because I was going in my fourth year, they had my rights. Yeah.

So, they tendered me. So, you know, they could negotiate with me, but at the end of the day, it's like, okay, we can tender them. And what does tender mean?

So, a tender, all that means is you get a first round tender or original round tender. So, you know, whatever round you were drafted at, they will give you that or you get a first round tender.

Bernard Pollard1:16:35

So, first round was I think was

Bernard Pollard1:16:38

Right? So they were like, "Well, we'll just put the tinder on you and not have to negotiate." Because they knew they were going, so that next year, which would have been 2010,

Bernard Pollard1:16:49

So we they were going into a lockout.

Bernard Pollard1:16:49

So they already knew they were bracing. So every owner was bracing for that. So really a lot of big contracts was not happening.

Bernard Pollard1:17:02

So after my first year in Houston, they tender me and then so I played my second year in Houston. And so we start to negotiate, but then it was just like,

"No, we going to hold off." So then the owners end up blocking us out,

Bernard Pollard1:17:18

Well, so they end up locking us out. So when they locked us out, when they lifted the lockout, that's where I was going to stay in Houston and negotiate with Rick Smith.

Bernard Pollard1:17:26

So they end up lifting the lockout, I go to I go to Baltimore now because everybody that was a tender player came back as an unrestricted free agent.

Bernard Pollard1:17:38

Exactly. So I was able to go to uh Baltimore on a one-year deal. Now I was skeptical going to Baltimore deal.

Yes. So I went there on a one year. I because coming out of that lockout they didn't really want to they they wanted to wait with to see how everything was going which the the the the agreement was the agreement.

Bernard Pollard1:17:57

But now so going to Baltimore I was like okay well hold on. They cuz they wanted me but then Harbaugh Harbaugh really didn't want me. Why

Azie wanted me?

Bernard Pollard1:18:07

So, Harbaugh was like he wanted a kid uh Zebacowski. Yeah.

He wanted him to start.

And so, you know, he wanted him to be next to Ed Reed and and to be able to start cuz they drafted him out of Notre Dame.

Bernard Pollard1:18:18

So, I go to I go to Baltimore.

Bernard Pollard1:18:22

That deal was I think that was a that was5. That was5 for one year.

Bernard Pollard1:18:28

Yeah. So, that was5. So I go there and we're sitting there and me and Azie I negotiate with Azie

And Ray's there.

Ray and all them there was

Bernard Pollard1:18:38

So I was skeptical cuz I knew my attitude. I was like am I going to get along with them? And so I was like dude like I'm I'm you know I'm a alpha

And I know they're alphas. So I was like so are we going to is this going to work? So looking back on it was one of the stupidest thoughts I had because we all were super tight. Like we all thought alike. It was a jungle.

Bernard Pollard1:19:08

So no that was that was early on like we I mean we didn't give up much. We were hardnosed though.

Bernard Pollard1:19:17

Yeah. So yeah.

Bernard Pollard1:19:23

Just like you.

Bernard Pollard1:19:29

30 40ome guys on defense. Exactly the same.

Bernard Pollard1:19:32

So, when I got to Baltimore, I was like, dude, like I'm at home. I was like, this is where I'm supposed to be. And I just remember Terrell Suggs.

Oh my god. Dude, I'm talking about I I slap somebody in practice and I just hear Terrell just screaming, yelling, cussing, and he was just like, "This is what we needed. This is what we So, he always say, "Bernard, you're the piece of He's like, "You're that piece that we need." And so we, you know, we playing and and and me and Harbaugh, like I said, I don't talk to him. Me and him never talk [clears throat] the head coach. We're never talking.

So he like, so the game plans would come in. We will go to play games and Harbaugh would be like, "No, I want Zibby in." So like I'm looking like, "Oh, no, no, no, no, no. We're not doing this."

I was like, "I signed here to be a starter." I was like, "Nobody beat me out. I'm a starter."

So, um,

He wanted Zikowski in. The defense was, we were shut down with me in. Yeah.

So, we were kind of going back and forth and I'm looking like I I went after one game, we played Pittsburgh. And after playing Pittsburgh, uh, I got we got back to Baltimore. I was in the cafeteria. I went to Aussie. I said, "Look," I said, "Uh, you're either going to I'm either going to be the starter or you trade me right now or release me."

Bernard Pollard1:20:44

I said, "Do one or the other." I said, "I'm not playing. I'm not I'm not sitting here for this sitting behind somebody I know that is not better than me." I said, "There's not you you're not going to find another strong safety in the National Football League better than me."

So, that was that. I end up I was a starter and we went to the AFC Championship, won the Super Bowl next the next year.

Bernard Pollard1:21:03

Oh, man. Yeah.

Bernard Pollard1:21:22

It's crazy, bro.

Bernard Pollard1:21:27

Was there two years? Second year after Har say like, "Hey, I was wrong about you. You're a really good player."

Oh, no. So me and him, me and Harbaugh, we butted heads. So it's funny because uh Michael our uh I remember and and we were

Bernard Pollard1:21:42

Dude, we had some players. So Aussie Aussie and them they did it. Him Dasa, they did a great job drafting players. They did a phenomenal job. But nevertheless,

We um Mike came to me and Mike go he come to me and cuz we we we have cornhole tournaments. Yeah. And so we had two sets of cornholes in the locker room, cornhole boards and and we would just play tournament after tournament.

So Mike came to me might go he go Bernard he go now I see why this is why we your third team. He go bro you don't play around with these people. I was like no because you know we had a we had a disagreement in the in the in at a game but it carried over into a team meeting. So Baltimore was a team where where we talked it out.

Yeah. And I mean we would be in team meeting and Harbaugh would look to say something and if he was wrong we called him out and he didn't like it.

Bernard Pollard1:22:36

The entire team.

Bernard Pollard1:22:39

Correct but we had a committee. So we had a committee. It was myself, Ray Hod, uh, Terrell, Sam, Joe, Ed, and, uh, Marshall Yanda and, uh, Anquin Bowden.

And we're all sitting there, you know, and I mean, so our committee, that was our committee. Yeah. And so when we had something, you know, when we went to hard ball, we told him, we said, "Dude, you you are a disciplinarian, and we we like that,

But you're killing us because, you know, we're trying to practice." I remember we played Dallas.

Bernard Pollard1:23:14

And we're doing double downs.

Bernard Pollard1:23:16

Well, dude, we can't do double downs and we're killing ourselves in practice and then we're trying to go and get ready for a football game.

I'm like, "Bro, we don't have anything. Our bodies are dead. So recovery is not happening." Dallas running back still running right now. the way they ran on us. And so we get done with that game and we come back in the locker room and we was like, "Yo, like you know, we come back for for uh I think it was like a Monday or whatever and we had a players only meet in the locker room."

Bernard Pollard1:23:42

And so then we took that to Harball and we told him we said, "Look, dude, you're done. You're not doing this anymore."

Bernard Pollard1:23:47

So he didn't the leadership that we had on that team, he did not like he did not like the fact that we we said what was on our mind.

Bernard Pollard1:23:58

He had he No,

He wasn't allowed in our defensive meetings. He would come knock on the door and we would not let him in. You know, he would come knocking, you know. No, no, bro. You can't come in here. Vonte Vonte is my that is my boy. Vonte Leech, the one of the best fullbacks to ever play in the National Football League.

Vonte would

He would always call Harbaugh eye guy.

Bernard Pollard1:24:18

Harbaugh was hilarious. And and you know, he's hilarious, but you know, he was a guy where he made sure during game day that the camera came to him.

Oh, I got you. and you know to be on the big screen

And to do all this and do all of that. Dude, he was listening to music

On the sideline. He wasn't even a part of anything that happened game plan. So, it's going to be interesting to see what he does with the New York Giants because this can either be a some circus or this could be something good.

Bernard Pollard1:25:10

You win a Super Bowl, you unlock you unlock things for a head coach.

Bernard Pollard1:25:14

And you know us winning Super Bowl, this is probably the Super Bowl is probably one of my worst football games ever really played in, ever been a part of, ever. So I played the game. Um, I was recovering, but I played the game with six broken ribs.

Bernard Pollard1:25:38

And you can't do anything about it.

It was bad. And And so,

Bernard Pollard1:25:42

So, after the first or second play, I I came out um or after the first drive, I think I I came out, we ran to the locker room. I took five shots of Tor in the ribs to numb it. So I I took numbing and then I took tor off.

So we tried to numb it. Oh my goodness, bro. It was I'm talking about I could not breathe. I was trying to run, hustle. I couldn't cuz the first play Vernon Davis ran like a crosser like a speedo stop or something and I had to chase him because it was somebody else's responsibility

And I end up chasing him but then when I fell I all I redid everything. Oh,

So you know, so trying to get through that in the game, but then also a lot of people don't even know I've never ever spoken about this. So during the game, I get a call from Dean Peas from the press box

And he goes, "Bernard," he he said, "We need you to do something." And I go, I go, "What is that, Dean?" He go, "We need you to cover for one of our players." I go, "Dean?" I go, "You want me to do my responsibility and somebody else's responsibility?" He go, "We just need you to cover." And so I was just like, "Okay." So I agreed to

Bernard Pollard1:26:50

Without going into detail, just to help somebody else.

Bernard Pollard1:26:55

Nope.

Bernard Pollard1:26:57

It was just something they needed help.

Bernard Pollard1:27:00

So I had to cover for a player and only two of our players know this.

And so you know, so for me, I'm I've always prided myself on I am I'm going to be disciplined. I'm going to be where I'm supposed to be because I I want to be one of 11. Right?

So now when when I take on that responsibility to cover for this other player, now I'm sitting here and now my eyes are everywhere

Because I got to look here, then I got to look here. Well, a lot of times when I got to look back here, I had Randy Moss running a 4-2 at me.

So I'm looking like, dude, like I I can't. So now I'm late. Now I'm late to running. Now a pass come behind me. Now I got to run back here missing tackles. And you just can't play that way. So, you know, we went end up winning the game.

I'm hot piss.

Bernard Pollard1:27:45

After the game, I go in the locker room. I'm throwing all of my equipment. I'm hot. Like, Ed comes up. Ed was like, "Bernard, we won.

Don't worry about it." Like, who cares? I'm like, "No, bro. Like, this is a game, a big game that we played in that I was piss poor terrible in."

And so, you know, you know, I never wore my ring. I never will wear it. I don't like watching the Super Bowl. Yeah, you got to put it behind you cuz [ __ ] happens. This represented your whole career, not one game.

I get you, but hey, that game is on film and film don't lie.

Bernard Pollard1:28:18

So, yeah. I wish I could take it back. That's one that's one game I wish I could have back.

Bernard Pollard1:28:35

I hear you.

Sometimes guys are going to be better. That's life. But I'm a competitor. They work better.

Bernard Pollard1:28:43

So, uh, I renegotiated a deal with Azie.

Bernard Pollard1:28:46

So, I had a deal that they just paid me upfront money. I had I renegotiated extension.

Bernard Pollard1:28:53

So, they come back. So, once we unlocked Pandora's box by winning the Super Bowl, now Harbaugh gained control over the roster.

So, when he gained control of the roster, he cut they traded. Did they trade or release Ed? They I think they released Ed. They released me.

Just released.

Bernard Pollard1:29:13

Yep. So they released me and

Bernard Pollard1:29:17

Yeah. So when they when they released me, I was supposed to go to Indianapolis. So I we So after the Super Bowl, you you do your exit uh interviews and and your physicals.

So I do my exit physical. We do it with the doctor at the hotel. Like we literally got up. We we was up we were up all night. Yeah. I did my ex I don't drink.

Bernard Pollard1:29:36

So I know for a fact I did my exit physical.

Bernard Pollard1:29:40

Did my exit physical.

We sitting there. We get on the plane. Go back to Baltimore for the parade.

Bernard Pollard1:29:46

So go back to Baltimore for the parade. We get done with the parade. I we end up going back uh it was his big thing cuz Ed was or not Ed, but Ray was retiring.

So he did a big thing in the locker room or whatever. And we fly back to Overland Park, Kansas. We had just built a house during the bye week.

So we built the house. We went back. My uh Megan had Camille, my youngest daughter.

Bernard Pollard1:30:19

Camille is she's me. Camille is an athlete."

Yeah. She's me in the female body.

So, but yeah. So, we go back to Kansas and you know, we were preparing like I'm resting to get my ribs right.

Bernard Pollard1:30:31

Got a newborn. So, we got three kids now. We're sitting there and I get a call about a week or no, I get a call right when um free free agency opened up and everything.

Bernard Pollard1:30:46

No, I have a contract. Yeah.

Bernard Pollard1:30:49

Yeah. So, they already paid me everything, upfront money, everything.

Bernard Pollard1:30:52

So, we go we free agency open up and we I think we get to the last day of free agency. I get a call from Azie. Azie called me. Azie said, "Bernard, I think we're going to end up going in another direction." He go, "Aar, this is not my decision." He go, "This is her boss's decision." Yeah.

He go, he said, "You and [clears throat] him can't get along." So, you know, he said, "Aar, he wants to cut you." And I said, "Okay,

Bernard Pollard1:31:17

Right?" Huh.

So, I was like, "We got a new contract."

So, I was like, "All right." I literally get off the phone with Azie, you know, me and him talk for a little bit. Get off the phone with Azie. I'm on the phone with Chuck Pagano and then the GM for the Colts.

Yeah. So, I'm like, they were like, "Okay, we we got the we had a four-year deal set in stone or put in place." And we was like, "Yo, like, okay." He was like, "Bernard, fly here so we can do the physical and we do everything." So, I go to get I'm literally heading to the airport. Azie called me and go, "Well, Bernard, we need to do a exit interview or exit physical." I go, "Azie, I already did my exit exit physical after the Super Bowl." Yeah.

He go, "No, no, no. We need to do another exit physical." I go, Aussie. I was like, dude, y'all cut me late, first of all. Yeah. So, now I'm sitting here. So, I had to I told Chuck I was like, Chuck, I gotta go to Baltimore. Hold on. I was like, just hold my deal in place.

Get on the plane, go to Baltimore. I literally off the plane in Baltimore. I get a driver to the facility or to the doctor's office. I'm in a doctor's office for 32 seconds.

Bernard Pollard1:32:25

I have no idea.

Bernard Pollard1:32:25

exit you got to have an exit physical and an exit interview. So we did

Bernard Pollard1:32:37

How are you feeling? Whatever whatever. So I was like

Bernard Pollard1:32:45

Yeah. So it's just one of those things where I I'm in there for 32 seconds. I get off. I get I leave go to leave Baltimore. I call Chuck or Chuck had text me. He said, "Bernard, I'm so sorry." He called me. He said, "Bernard, I'm so sorry." And I go, "What happened?" He go, "We ended up signing Lauron Landry." So they signed the other safety, Lauron Landry from, I think he was with New York, if I'm not mistaken. So they signed Leon Landry. So then I ended up coming to Tennessee.

So I came to Tennessee for a visit and it was like one of the last we were, you know, I was like, I want to I want to get this thing over with. So that's how I ended up with the Titans.

And who was the coach at the time? The coach at the time was uh Wiz No, it wasn't Wiz Hunt. It was uh Mike uh Munchek.

Bernard Pollard1:33:30

For the Tennessee Titans.

Bernard Pollard1:33:33

No. So they brought him in with Taylor Lewan didn't come in till the was it the next year? I think he came in the next year with Wiz. He was first round.

Bernard Pollard1:33:45

So I was in Tennessee for two years. So

Bernard Pollard1:33:48

So I was there. So

Bernard Pollard1:33:52

No. Can't stand him.

Couldn't Couldn't I couldn't stand him. I right now I don't have I don't have any issues with him, but I just thought he was a loudmouth that didn't back it up.

Um

Bernard Pollard1:34:06

Yeah. Old tackle out of Michigan.

Bernard Pollard1:34:07

Yeah, we would do things like that in the league and and um you know I was I think I think we got into it one time, but I'm I mean I I I want fights with you.

Bernard Pollard1:34:29

That's why.

You know, but you know, it's just for me, you know, I came to Tennessee from winning the Super Bowl. And so I come to Tennessee and I'm seeing a lot of these guys don't know how to win.

Bernard Pollard1:34:45

Right? So it was, you know, you know, when I got here, I mean, you know, I don't know what it's like now cuz I haven't I have not been to an NFL game and I don't go to NFL facilities, right? But,

You know, I'm looking at how things were done because they shielded me from a lot of that when I came on my visit. They kept me by the hotel and then we went out to eat to a restaurant. So, I mean, I think I I don't even remember coming to the facility much.

Yeah. So when I signed here, when I finally went over to the facility, I go, "What in the world is this?"

Bernard Pollard1:35:17

I mean, it was just more or less like it was like a office building that they turned to an NFL facility.

I gotcha. And I'm just like, I mean, this doesn't even really go. And you know, the the cafeteria was like, the cafeteria was like a meeting room that they just made a cafeteria

And then the dude they had winos making food. I'm like, bro, like what is this? Like, you know, so it was just you had pooling stoves and I'm like, bro, what like you know what? So, it was just different. Like, you know, playing for the Tennessee Titans, like I thank God for my opportunities, and, you know, I signed a one-year deal and then I renegotiated a three-year uh deal after my second year, but it was just one of those things after I got when I got hurt my second year, you know, my first year was a lot of fun.

We had a the Tennessee Titans, I would say, have has had more talent than most teams in the National Football League, but couldn't put it together because the culture is so bad. Yes,

Bernard Pollard1:36:19

That's all ownership. It's all ownership

Bernard Pollard1:36:42

But they flappenc he called out the vets and was like, "This is [ __ ] What's going on here?" And Chris was like, "Yeah, you called us out." And they like talked it out on the show. But I you So with that, the Titans, it was [sighs and gasps] that place, man. I remember when I first got to Tennessee, I argue with front office. I go, "Why don't we have a steam room and a sauna?"

Bernard Pollard1:37:17

Didn't never had it.

Bernard Pollard1:37:19

I literally argue with them until they built one inside of the bathrooms, the restrooms. So, they put a a sauna on the left and a steam room on the right.

Bernard Pollard1:37:30

Or vice versa. And and I'm like I remember walking in to the weight room and they had um they had uh TRX bands everywhere.

And I go, "No wonder y'all be losing y'all. It can't none of y'all strong in here." I'm like, "What are you freaking got TRX bands around here for?"

Bernard Pollard1:38:15

I'm like we celebrate losing. You know, when I'm like, dude, there's been so much I I couldn't I could tell you so many names from the two years I was on that team and I was like, these dudes should be players.

Bernard Pollard1:38:28

But just the culture.

Bernard Pollard1:38:29

You know, so you go through the head coaching, we had head co we had not a head coach but friends of a head coach who were coaching positions and we in meetings. We go in, he got a cigar and scotch.

Bernard Pollard1:38:43

In meetings and I'm looking like, bro, we got coaches fighting each other. I'm like, dude, what is going on?

Bernard Pollard1:38:50

Right? So, I mean, in Kansas City, now I will say this about Gunther. Gunther Cunningham was a hard nose. I watched that man take chew out of his mouth and slap the piss out of a assistant coach. Just threw it directly in his face and just mother effed him and everything else. I watched it. Oh my god.

And I'm looking at Gunther like, bro, like, do you not understand? You are 70ome years old. If this man put hands on you, so I, you know, I'm not against disagreements. I I know that they they they they happen, but when with the Tennessee Titans, I'm just I'm looking at so many guys. I'm I remember one coach, we're playing Jacksonville Jaguars in in Jacksonville. And I'm like, hey, coach. I was like, hey, you need to tell the linebackers this and this. He goes, no, you tell them.

I'm watching the game. I'm like, what? And so I like we're losing games. They're smoking cigars outside the buses.

Bernard Pollard1:39:39

That's poison. So, it it's just the it's the the culture is just so so bad. And after my second year with the Titans, I was I I remember I went up to went up to the GM. I said, "Hey, man." I said, "I'm I'm recovering from this this Achilles injury." I said, "I'll be fine." I said, "But I can't stay here." I said, "I cannot stay." And and I knew that they were going to have to draft a quarterback. You know, they had Jake Locker. They had I don't know how many quarterbacks played with the Tennessee Titans when I was there, but nevertheless, I knew they had to draft a quarterback and they end up drafting Mariota.

I said, I do not want to be here with a rookie quarterback. I don't want to play with a rookie quarterback. I just don't. And so,

Bernard Pollard1:40:18

Yeah.

Bernard Pollard1:40:24

Yeah, man. But he but he did some really good things. I didn't want to be involved with that, especially with the culture. I knew that was around.

So, you know, he was reluctant. uh he ended up grant me my release. Now thinking back on, I'm looking like I should have just stayed cuz that's I would have that's $3 million I left on the table.

And so, you know, just you know,

Bernard Pollard1:41:49

So, Tennessee, man, I'm I'm um it was I just I set I I recovered. Um, I got back to running after about 6 and 1/2 7 months after having uh Achilles in uh Achilles surgery. And um I remember so I remember that's when Jaylen started to kind of smell itself. My oldest son kind of smell himself. He's kind of getting to this you know football and everything else.

And I just remember um going to Oakland. So I flew to Oakland worked out. That was my very first time I've ever worked out. I really ain't even going to call it a workout. Like they was like, "Hey, Bernard, we just want to see you come on the field and

Just make sure you can run your Achilles like normal." So I go pedal, I break, I do a couple breaks. They like, "Okay, we good." And so I get into uh we get into go back in the facility and I remember talking to Charles Woodson and a couple other guys and we all talking, laughing, and I go into uh the uh I went to Reggie uh Reggie's office, the GM. So we got the contract right there. And you have an agent so you can sign it right on the spot.

Yeah. So I got the contract right there and I'm just I just remember I was going to sign it and I was just like the trainer opened the door and he asked Reggie to come here and so Reggie went out, came back in. He was like, "Hold on." So he went out, came back in. So Reggie was like, "Uh," he came back in. He was like, "Hey." He's like, "Uh, hey, let's hold off just a little bit and um, you know, we'll we'll we'll come back at this.

We'll come back to this. contract.

Yeah. So I was like, "Okay." I was like, "No, that's fine."

Bernard Pollard1:43:28

So I'm sitting there. So I was So I actually I got home and I was just like,

"I don't want it. I'm good."

Bernard Pollard1:43:36

I was like,

Bernard Pollard1:43:39

Well, for that one, [clears throat] it was they wanted me, but I was like, being in Oakland, California, my son is getting older. I want to see them grow up. I missed too much.

I missed a lot already." Yeah.

And so we have been a 2hour difference and then when they going to bed I'm just getting out of practice and everything. So I was just like you know

So I just took on coaching him. So I I was like you know family I

Bernard Pollard1:44:05

Just retired.

Bernard Pollard1:44:31

Right?

Bernard Pollard1:44:41

Like had to think about it.

Bernard Pollard1:44:57

You know what so it was it was God's plan man.

Bernard Pollard1:45:01

Um you know I truly believe like God shut it down for a reason.

Bernard Pollard1:45:08

And so for me you know looking back on it I'm like I needed to be home. I needed to learn about me. I needed to learn and and understand my wife. I needed to learn the things to do and not to do. I needed to learn that this wasn't all about me, right?

And so, at first I was like, man, like I miss the Sunday's action. I miss the preparation everything, right? Cuz I love that. It was just one of those things where I quickly found family and doing things the right way, you know, at home and being that rock for my family. I quickly found like, dude, like this is what I wanted.

Bernard Pollard1:45:51

Because I quickly I saw, you know, what I missed growing up.

Bernard Pollard1:45:58

And how I wanted my home to be.

And so, you know, I was just like, dude, like I want to be the best husband that I can be. I want to be the best father that I could be. And so that meant that meant getting things in order with my wife, with my children, uh with her home, and understanding and having something that they can look back and not look back and hate

Or dislike something, right? Like everything's not going to be whatever. But I wanted them I didn't want that for them at all.

So, you know, I thank God, bro, because you know, for me,

It's just one of the things where I got opportunity to just learn. Yeah.

And understand but then also I also saw my my gift right my gift was teaching coaching training right so I when I went into training uh Jalen Ramsey was my first client.

Bernard Pollard1:47:00

Yep. So yeah. So, dude, like when I I remember when I walked away from the game. I remember

Bernard Pollard1:47:08

Yeah. Came out of Florida State, I remember getting a phone call and it was his dad. He was like, Lamont called me and said, "Hey," he's like, "Bernard, my son is is leaving early from Florida State." He said, "He's going to be here at December." He said, "Can you have him up until draft day?" I said, "I'll get him." So, you know, when I and I worked with a couple players before that, but you know, and I fell in love with it. Yeah.

And when I got Jaylen, it was just like breaking everything down for him. And for him to understand what you can and can't do in the National Football League. And when after the first or second day of me working with him, I remember calling my buddy. I said, "Dude, this is going to be $100 million quarterback." And I said, "It's not even close.

Bernard Pollard1:47:47

I was like, "He he is incredible." And

Bernard Pollard1:47:55

So, they live they live here.

Bernard Pollard1:48:04

Yep. They will come get a place to stay or I'll connect them to a realtor. They figure out, you know, can they get a spot here? Does it make sense? Or do they just stay in a hotel? Right. So, you know, from draft from, you know, if you going try to go to draft or you're getting ready for camp or whatever it may be, you'll stay at wherever you staying, but then we will meet 3 to four days a week

And I'm just breaking all of your movement down and just kind of retraining you,

You know, physically, but then also mentally cuz, you know, for Jaylen, we did field work, we did board work, we did understanding of what to do, the mental side of things. And so,

That's the that's the love. I, like I said, I fell in love, but then I quickly, you know, cuz I I always would say my gift was football. My gift's not football. My gift is training, teaching, and developing players. My talent was football. And so, you know, I would do that if I didn't get paid, right? And that's when they that's when they say that's when, you know, you that's was your gift, you know, cuz you would do it and you wouldn't get paid. And I absolutely I love it.

Bernard Pollard1:49:11

So, I I I have I I've thought about that. Um, you know, I definitely want that. We we we chopped some numbers up on it, but you know, we got to look at, you know, the return of everything, right? And and you you know, where we live, bro, dirt ain't cheap.

Bernard Pollard1:49:24

And so, you know, I got a couple really good ideas that I want to do. Um, you know, my daughter's in the softball world and she is a freaking animal, you know. So, you know, I'm I'm I'm looking at a few things, but yeah, I I want to open up a facility.

Bernard Pollard1:50:35

So that that was I I think you know [clears throat] my wife is an introvert.

Megan is an introvert.

Bernard Pollard1:50:43

Very reserved. And so when I come home, she can't wait cuz she like, "Yo, like I could tell you everything that happened."

Yeah. And so and she, you know, we've known each other, we've been with each other since we were 14.

Oh, really? You know, we went to high school. We went to high school together. Yeah. So, she played volleyball.

Bernard Pollard1:51:04

She's from Fort Wayne. Went to South High School with me. Played volleyball.

Bernard Pollard1:51:10

Yeah. So, we were off and on. Um, and you know, throughout college, that's when we just kind of we really was just like, "All right, come on. Let's just do this thing." Yeah.

So, you know, I've known her since I was 14 years old.

She was my outlet.

You know, uh she lived

Riding a bike 7 to 10 minutes from me. Yeah. Right. And so,

You know, when I went and hung out with her, I was I was at peace.

Bernard Pollard1:51:35

And so,

Bernard Pollard1:51:40

So, her mom and dad was was never together. Um you know, she lived with her mom. her sister was a division one uh volleyball player was an absolute phenom. Her brother super duper smart 10 years older than her. So it was just three of them and you know by the time you know her sister was a senior our freshman year. So when she graduated she went to uh play volleyball in college. So you know it was just you know it Megan was just by herself so she always worked always played volleyball ran track.

So, it's just one of those things, man, where we we just we just we know each other so well.

But, you know, when I retired and being at home every day,

You know, for me, I think it was more or less I had to learn how to be a man.

Bernard Pollard1:52:25

I had to learn how to love her the right way. I had to learn how to listen to her the right way. I had to learn all of those things because I thought I was doing that, but I wasn't. And so, you know, when when everything, you know, I think, you know, after having our fourth child, Jordan, you know, it was just one of those things where I had to be up and honest, you know, about, you know, just all kind of like, yo, babe, I didn't tell you this or, hey, I got to talk to you about all of this.

I got to be open about this and I spent money here and you know what I mean? Like so it was just like I couldn't run a house where

You know I I made the money I can do whatever I want to do.

Bernard Pollard1:53:08

You know what I mean? Like what you mean?

So it was just like

You know now we are at that place where she knows everything.

Bernard Pollard1:53:16

She like I don't got to come in the house like I tell people all the time she know my passcodes to everything. She I can set my phone down and I had to worry about nothing. You know what I mean? Like and so like we're just, you know, we are at a place and and I'm still a little rough around the edges when it come to the kids cuz I am, you know, more of, hey, wash them dishes. Like we don't use a dishwasher in our house.

Bernard Pollard1:53:41

That's right.

Wash them dishes.

Bernard Pollard1:54:16

You know,

Bernard Pollard1:55:06

The Black Alliance."

Bernard Pollard1:55:41

So, I tell my I tell my players all the time, "Y'all [clears throat] better y'all better welcome everybody." We And I come from that. Welcome everybody. Like, you know, but yeah, I remember we talked at the fish fry. Really?

Yes.

Bernard Pollard1:56:25

Same with my daughter cuz I mean they're the minority. They are they're the minority and you got to check up on them.

Bernard Pollard1:56:48

I don't play no games.

Bernard Pollard1:57:16

Coach them up