In 1921, Fritz Pollard became the first African American head coach in NFL history as he was named co-coach of the Akron Pros. Pollard started playing as a halfback for Brown University. In 1915, he led Brown University to the Rose Bowl. Following that, Pollard went pro in 1919 when he joined Akron (OH) Pros after serving in the army during World War 1. 

The Akron Pros joined the American Professional Football Association, later called the National Football league (NFL), and Pollard led the team to achieve the league’s first crown as undefeated. During his pro-football career, Pollard also played and sometimes coached four NFL teams: the Pros/Indians (1920-21/1925-26), the Milwaukee Badgers (1922), the Hammond Pros (1923, 1925), and the Providence Steam Roller (1925). 

In 1928, Pollard organized and coached the Chicago Black Hawks, an all African American team. They became one of the most popular teams on the West Coast before shutting down because of the Great Depression.