September 17, 2006 is a date David Pollack will never forget, because his entire life changed that afternoon in Cincinnati.

In the second game of the 2006 season, Pollack hit then-Cleveland Browns running back Reuben Droughns in the backfield. The Bengals recorded a loss on the play, but it was for more than yardage, as Pollack had broken his neck, specifically the C-6 vertebra.

With a silenced crowd Pollack was stretched off the field; a field he planned on returning to, but never did.

Pollack had immediate surgery and spent six months in a halo. His plans to return in 2007 were scrapped when the injury was deemed too severe to play football, and he hadn‘t progressed enough in his recovery. Head Coach Marvin Lewis was charged with the duties of announcing Pollack’s retirement from the NFL this past April.

Coming out of Georgia, Pollack was the 17th overall pick of the 2005 draft. In his lone NFL year he had 4.5 sacks and was emerging as a talented defensive end. This coming after being All-American as a Bulldog, and he was also one of the premier SEC players. He racked up several national awards for his play, and became a Bulldog hero.

Suffice to say all of that probably made returning to Georgia a no-brainer. He’s quickly transitioned from being a great player to talented broadcaster, as Pollack is the new co-host on the “Afternoon Saloon,” a sports talk radio show on WQXI-AM radio in Atlanta. Pollack also landed a gig with CBS doing some work on the SEC post game show.

Pollack was always praised for his leadership, preparedness and intelligence on the football field, and has seamlessly brought each of those qualities to the airwaves and fans in Georgia, which is definitely something everyone should LOVE!