Mike Chappell

mike.chappell@indystar.com

Second in an occasional series catching up with former Colts. The first edition featured former Colts RB Edgerrin James.

At the risk of stealing Tom Hanks' Oscar-winning thunder, Marcus Pollard considers himself Forrest Gump-like.

Pollard's journey from outgoing two-sport athlete at Valley (Ala.) High School to director of player development with the Jacksonville Jaguars — with a 10-year stop in Indianapolis — has been one memorable moment after another.

"You know, everything has just kind of flowed," said Pollard. "It was just something, then it was something next.

"Yeah, I kind of feel like Forrest Gump. It's just kept going and going."

Pollard, 42, last played for the Atlanta Falcons in 2008. He resides in Jacksonville, Fla., where he's in his second year as mentor for the Jaguars' players. It's proven to be an ideal fit for someone who found himself right at home interacting with and counseling teammates during his playing days.

Among Pollard's responsibilities are helping young players make the transition from college to the NFL, getting settled in a new environment, understanding the pluses and minuses of being in the glare of the professional stage, recognizing the potential pitfalls of social media and, occasionally, helping an individual continue to pursue his college degree.

Again, that's smack dab in Pollard's wheelhouse.

"I am really eating it up," he said. "It gives me an opportunity to be back around the guys and do something I enjoy.

"I was an outgoing guy when I was playing (in Indianapolis) and helped the guys, even guys like Dallas (Clark) who was playing the same position as me. I didn't see it as Dallas was going to take my position if I helped him out. It was about helping him out and helping him get to the next level."

When he isn't handling his day job, Pollard could be excused for rocking back in his chair at the Jaguars' headquarters and smiling as he retraced the steps that delivered him to Jacksonville.

"Livin' the dream," he said.

Pollard has become an avid golfer, and often compares his NFL career to "a par-6."

"It was a long shot," he said. "A real long shot."

The Colts took a flier on Pollard in 1995. He was an accomplished tight end and linebacker in high school, but had been a power forward at Bradley University. The Braves didn't have a football program.

After a quiet start — 16 catches and one touchdown in his first three seasons — Pollard emerged as a force with the Peyton Manning-led offense. Among Colts tight ends, he ranks No. 3 all time with 263 receptions and No. 4 with 3,391 yards and 35 touchdowns.

"You know you have those commercials: priceless," Pollard said. "I can't put a price on my years in Indianapolis. It was priceless. To this day I stay in touch with the friends I made while I was there — Peyton, Reggie (Wayne), Marv (Harrison), Edgerrin (James), Jeff Saturday, Tarik (Glenn), (Dwight) Freeney and Robert Mathis, just to name a few. And to have been coached by one of the greatest, Tony Dungy.

"My affection for Indianapolis is enormous."

As if enjoying a long NFL career wasn't enough, a few more Gump-like moments awaited.

In 2011, Pollard and wife Amani, participated in CBS' "The Amazing Race 19." The experience took them to 20 cities and four continents. They finished third.

Now, Pollard divides his time between his job with the Jaguars and tending to his four children — Myles, 12; Micah, 10; Aja, 8; and Ayris, 6. AAU basketball keeps the family busy.

"They want to be like their daddy and play basketball," Pollard said, "so I'm letting them do it. We're going to basketball gyms for hours and hours. One day we were at a gym 12 hours.

"I wouldn't trade it for the world."

It's been that type of ride.

"Yeah," Pollard said, "life is just good for me right now. My wife is happy. Living in Florida, we get the sunshine. Kids are in school and I have no health issues.

"I wish I could think of some adjectives that really describe my life and how I feel. Cool is one. Amazing is another. Terrific, wonderful. I could go on and on."

Call Star reporter Mike Chappell at (317) 444-6830. You can follow him on Twitter at @mchappell51.