November 11, 2024
By Adam Ruffner
Coming off of their first championship in August, the Minnesota Wind Chill have formally opened the 2025 UFA offseason with the big signing of James Pollard. A six year veteran of the Philadelphia Phoenix, Pollard won the league’s “Most Improved” award in 2022, and is averaging 27 assists, 33 goals, 12 blocks, and over 2800 receiving yards per season over the last three years. At 6’5”, Pollard has been one of the most imposing end of quarter performers of his generation, and figures to be a potent addition to one of the league’s best defenses.
“Pollard’s energy and playmaking with and without the frisbee add an invaluable asset to our defensive unit heading into 2025,” said Minnesota Head Coach Ben Feldman, recipient of the league’s “Coach Of The Year” honor this year. “When it comes to end of quarter special teams talents, we just got one of the proven best in the entire UFA.”
“There’s a no fly zone in the Central Division,” Pollard said after his contract signing. “The skies belong to me!”
The 28-year-old has lived up to his nickname “Big Game James” in recent seasons—particularly in the air—and has emerged as one of the league’s premier playmakers as a thrower and receiver. In his last 37 starts with the Phoenix, Pollard registered 11 games with at least 300 yards receiving. And since the beginning of the 2021 season, Pollard has the ninth most huck completions (70) in the UFA.
But with Feldman’s plan to insert Pollard on defense, Minnesota just added another big arm to what was already the league’s best D-line pulling arsenal. Pollard was nominated by peers as the East Division’s second best puller from this season, and now he joins Wind Chill specialists Sam Berglund and Cameron Lacy, the latter of whom picked up All Defense honors in 2024 and was the x-factor at Championship Weekend.
In 2024, Minnesota continually won the field position battle against opponents with their deep pulls. As a result, Wind Chill defenders could sprint down and apply pressure early in possessions, which in turn often yielded short field opportunities; the Minnesota defense finished third in break rate this season, and second in takeaways.
“I’m really excited for this opportunity to learn and grow as a player with the defending champs,” said Pollard.
