Bernard Pollard
A fearsome NFL safety whose punishing hits famously disrupted the New England Patriots dynasty, earning him the nickname 'Patriot Killer.'
Born 1984 (age 42)·American football player·Birthday: December 23·Millennials
Biography
Bernard Pollard played football with a throwback mentality, a hard-hitting safety whose presence in the secondary was felt on every down. Coming out of Purdue University, where he earned the nickname 'Bonecrusher,' he carried that physical style into a decade-long NFL career. Pollard was a defensive leader for multiple teams, most notably the Baltimore Ravens, with whom he won a Super Bowl in 2013. His legacy, however, is inextricably linked to a series of violent but legal collisions with New England Patriots players, including one that ended Tom Brady's 2008 season and another that injured Rob Gronkowski in 2012. These incidents led the media to dub him the 'Patriot Killer,' a tag that overshadows his consistency as a durable and intelligent enforcer on championship-caliber defenses.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Bernard was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bernard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Bernard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won Super Bowl XLVII as a starting safety for the Baltimore Ravens.
- Recorded over 700 tackles, 13 interceptions, and 12 sacks during his NFL career.
- Forced a key fumble in the 2013 AFC Championship game against the Patriots.
- Started over 100 games across stints with four different NFL teams.
Did You Know?
He is a devout Christian and is very vocal about his faith.
He legally changed his middle name to 'Bonecrusher' in 2013.
He ended the seasons of three different Patriots stars: Tom Brady, Wes Welker, and Rob Gronkowski.
After retirement, he became a high school football coach and motivational speaker.
“I play the game the way it's supposed to be played. It's a physical game.”
