The Running Back Battle: Tony Pollard Vs. Tyjae Spears

The 2025 NFL marks another season of battling at the running back position for the Tennessee Titans. Last season, the expectation was clear going in: there would be a split backfield between newly signed Tony Pollard and young stud Tyjae Spears. This did not end up going to plan however. Tyjae Spears was riddled with injuries, only appearing in 12 games through the course of the season, while dealing with multiple concussions. Through his injuries, his stats took a toll, only averaging 3.7 yards per carry on 84 attempts. He ended the season on a high note though, with 20 carries for 95 yards in a 20-13 loss in Jacksonville. This led to Tony Pollard being the primary tailback for Tennessee. In the 16 games he appeared in, Pollard ran the ball 260 times for 1,079 yards and 5 touchdowns. He ended up being an efficient option, averaging 4.2 yards per carry.

So, who should get the keys? A quote from head coach Brian Callahan states, "I think in a perfect world, it's a healthier division of labor." Callahan is a huge fan of both players, and would like for them to play more evenly for load management. This was also seemingly the plan last season, but due to injuries that was not the case.

It is great for the Titans to have two starting calliber running backs. Injuries are something that are guaranteed to occur in the NFL, so having as strong of depth as possible is always the plan. A split backfield not only gives a two options in case of injury, but load management decreases wear and tear for both players, significantly decreasing the risk of injury.

Tony Pollard is aging, and Spears is coming up on the end of his contract soon. Both players have something to prove, so this will be an interesting battle to watch unfold.