Ex-NFL star David Pollack pens children's book on resilience amidst personal trials
In an inspiring blend of personal challenge and professional endeavor, former NFL linebacker David Pollack has launched a children's book titled "The Won't Quit Kid."
According to CBN, the book aims to impart life values and resilience, drawing from Pollack’s faith journey and adversities.
David Pollack, once a celebrated athlete with the Cincinnati Bengals, saw his career pivot significantly after retiring early due to a severe neck injury. This setback, instead of diminishing his spirit, fortified his resolve and deepened his faith, elements he now channels into his writing and public speaking.
His transition to authorship with Brave Books happens amidst personal life trials, as his wife, Lindsey, undergoes recovery from brain cancer surgery at Duke. In these challenging times, Pollack has turned to his faith more than ever, exemplified by his frequent calls for prayers on social media platforms like X.
Initial Seeds of Faith Planted in High School
Pollack’s spiritual journey, which heavily influences his current projects, began unexpectedly in his senior year of high school. Initially non-religious, his curiosity towards faith was piqued during a church "lockout" event — an experience that introduced him to Christian teachings for the first time.
Encouraged by his physics teacher, who was vocal about his faith, Pollack began exploring religious texts. His interest led him to choose the Bible for an English assignment, a decision that was initially met with disbelief by his English teacher but eventually proved life-changing.
"That was the first time that I’d ever heard [about] Jesus," Pollack recalls. The profound impact of the scriptures led him to seek deeper engagement, culminating in regular church attendance and a commitment to Christian faith.
Challenges That Forged a Stronger Faith
The transition from a promising sports career to abrupt retirement could have been a disheartening end for many, but for Pollack, it was a new beginning. His neck injury and subsequent recovery period were times of introspection and spiritual deepening. "God started to grow me, and I’m a better spouse, I’m a better dad … I wouldn’t have experienced so many of these things that I got to go through," he said, reflecting on his journey.
His resilience and outlook on life's challenges are what he hopes to pass on through "The Won’t Quit Kid." He emphasizes the importance of allowing children to confront obstacles as a means to build character and foster faith. "So much nowadays, you see so much clearing obstacles and hard things out of the way for kids. They need that to grow to who God’s gonna make them," Pollack points out.
This philosophy of embracing challenges rather than avoiding them is also mirrored in his personal life as he supports his wife through her health struggles, believing in the strength and support that faith provides during hard times.
From the Pulpit to the Pen: Pollack's New Chapter
"It’s not about performance," Pollack says about his new book project, indicating that his aim isn’t merely to entertain but to educate and empower. Children today can learn much from his life, marked by dramatic highs and lows, all woven together by an underlying thread of faith and resilience.
The impact of such influential figures in his life, from his physics teacher to his college coach, who modeled a faith-lived life, convinced him of the path forward. By sharing these experiences, Pollack hopes not only to inspire but also to guide the younger generation through their formative years.
"And man, oh man, was my life forever rocked and changed. And I was just like, ‘I want to know more,’ and I started reading more and more, and then I started going to church," shared Pollack, recalling the moments that defined his faith journey. With "The Won’t Quit Kid," he intends to spark similar transformative journeys in young readers across the globe.




