Tennessee Titans' Tony Pollard ranks top-5 in yards after contact

When Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard signed a three-year contract with the team in 2024, it was a way for him to return home and still do the job he loves.

Pollard is from Memphis, Tennessee, and played for the Memphis Tigers in college. Nashville isn't Memphis, but a three-hour drive is a lot closer than traveling 420 miles from Dallas, Texas, where he spent his first five seasons.

Because of his roots, Pollard wasn't well-known when he was drafted. He spent his first three seasons sharing time with Ezekiel Elliott and broke out in 2022 with his first 1,000-yard season. Now, Pollard has had four 1,000-yard seasons in a row and is unquestionably the Titans' RB1.

One of Pollard's best qualities is his ability to gain yards after contact, and Pro Football Focus says that he's the third-best running back in the NFL at gaining yards after contact. PFF writes, in part:

His career average of 3.4 yards after contact ranks fourth among running backs with at least 400 carries. The only players ahead of him are Achane, Henry and Nick Chubb. While Chubb’s ability to break tackles has declined following multiple serious injuries, Pollard has largely maintained his effectiveness.

The lone exception came in 2023, when Pollard saw his post-contact production fall below 3.0 yards per carry for the first time in his career. The Cowboys ultimately moved in a different direction, creating questions about whether he could recapture his previous form.

He answered those questions quickly. Pollard returned to averaging more than 3.0 yards after contact in each of his first two seasons with Tennessee, reaffirming his place among the NFL’s most efficient runners.

Pollard remains the top running back in the Titans' locker room, and he will be instrumental in helping Brian Daboll develop Cam Ward this fall. His consistency, durability, and reliability will be a cornerstone for the Titans' offense. His ability to find a hole and get through it will be a major factor in the Titans' ability to move the ball down the field.

He may not have come into the league as a household name, but he's certainly made a name for himself and proven that he is an elite running back in the NFL.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans' Tony Pollard ranks top-5 in yards after contact