Following icons like Derrick Henry, Tony Pollard quietly joins elite company as one of only two NFL backs achieving a unique feat.
If there's one thing the Tennessee Titans have become known for since they changed their name from the Tennessee Oilers in 1999, it's their deep legacy of running backs.
It started with Eddie George.
George was drafted out of Ohio State in 1996 and became the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year that season. He then made the Pro Bowl for the next four seasons. George is the Titans' all-time leading rusher, with 10,009 yards.
Then, there was Chris Johnson, or as fans called him "CJ2K."
Johnson was drafted by the Titans in 2008 from ECU. He had no problems adjusting to the speed of the NFL. He had 1,000 rushing yards or more from 2008-2013. He really left his mark on the franchise in 2009.
Johnson became one of the few players in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season, finishing with 2,006 that year.
Titans' fans were then graced by Derrick Henry.
Known as "King Henry," he showcased his unique blend of speed and power out of the backfield that was nearly impossible to stop once he got running downhill.
Henry was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Titans and also joined Johnson in the 2,000-yard club. Henry had 2,027 rushing yards during the 2020 season.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end, as Henry left the Titans after the 2023 season and joined the Baltimore Ravens. Henry has picked up right where he left off, rushing for 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons with the Ravens.
Henry was always going to be a tough act to follow, but the Titans have something special in Tony Pollard.
Pollard was one of the massive contracts handed out by former General Manager Ran Carthon. However, he's actually lived up to the billing thus far.
Carthon's biggest contracts were to Lloyd Cushenberry, L'Jarius Sneed, Calvin Ridley and Pollard. So far, Cushenberry and Sneed have been released, and Ridley has looked like a shell of his former self.
Pollard has rushed for over 1,000 yards in the last two seasons he's been with the Titans. He's also in some rare company.
Not many running backs can say that they've run for 1,000 yards or more in the last four seasons. However, that's exactly the case for Pollard and Henry.
Henry and Pollard are the only running backs in the NFL who can say that, as both have done so for four consecutive years.
Pollard may not have done enough yet to have the same impact that players like George, Johnson or Henry have on the franchise, but he's a pretty solid successor to the king.
Pollard will man the Titans' backfield again in 2026, and I'd say he's earned that right with how consistent he has been in the last few years.
He was the one bright spot at running back for the Titans last year. Tennessee had one of the worst rushing attacks in the league, at 93.5 yards per game, but that wasn't because of Pollard.
He didn't have much help last season, with Tyjae Spears missing multiple games due to injury and Julius Chestnut accounting for 40 yards.
The Titans understood that Pollard needed some help and have padded the running back room. It now features Pollard, Spears, Chestnut, Nicholas Singleton, Kalel Mullings and Michael Carter.
Will Pollard be one of those Titans running backs we talk about for years to come after his time with the franchise ends? Who knows.
At the end of the day, we need to realize just how good Pollard has been as a Titan.
