By Beverly Lomosad
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done. – Genesis 50:20
David Pollack’s love for football was forged while watching his older brother on the gridiron. From as young as six years old, he knew he wanted to someday become a professional football athlete. He nearly gave up that dream though when he tried out for his high school varsity football team and didn’t make it. A coach encouraged him to start lifting weights, and it proved to be a game-changer: David grew large enough and became strong enough to begin to have success in the sport he loved. His body transformation led to breakout junior and senior years in high school. He then went on to play for the University of Georgia (UGA) from 2001 to 2004, where he became a defensive star, helping the Georgia Bulldogs to win their first championship in the Southeastern Conference in 20 years. His legendary college football career also included receiving the prestigious All-American award three times. The annual award is handed out to amateur athletes in the U.S., recognizing them as top competitors at the national level in their respective sport.
David had a childhood-dream-come-true moment when, in the 2005 National Football League (NFL) draft, he was selected in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals. His professional football career, however, was short-lived. He suffered a career-ending broken neck early into the start of his second NFL season during a September 17, 2006 game.
In 2008, David pivoted to a career in sports broadcasting, joining ESPN in 2009, where he contributed his knowledge in college football to several programs, including College GameDay, College Football Live, and SportsCenter, as well as to the sports network’s coverage of the Bowl and College Football Playoffs and the national championship. But, after 13 years, David was among the ESPN talents let go on June 30, 2023 as part of a broader wave of cost-cutting restructuring.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, adversity struck at home as well for David. On March 10, 2025, he went on social media, asking friends to lift up his wife, Lindsey, in prayer after she was diagnosed with a brain cancer. He made the announcement two days ahead of a surgery to remove the tumor in her brain at Duke University Health in North Carolina. By God’s grace, Lindsey has since been cancer-free.
Know this: God did not put David through all of the setbacks in his professional and home life. The adversary, the devil, did. God is the giver of life (Acts 17:25), the giver of every perfect gift (James 1:17). In contrast, the devil is the thief, the source of death and destruction (John 10:10). The Bible is clear: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). When trouble comes, and it will, (John 16:33), keep the faith in the goodness of God and know that, in all things, He can turn to good – your good – what the adversary meant for evil (Genesis 50:20).
CALL TO ACTION
A life with God starts with a relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
- PRAY OUT LOUD: “Father in heaven, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe that he died on the cross for my sins. I ask you to forgive me of all of my sins. I believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Savior and Lord. Amen.”
- WHAT’S NEXT: Be part of a good, Bible-based church.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptures are from the New International Version of the Bible.