‘Can’t Fix it’: David Pollack Updates on Cancer Battling Wife to Make ‘Toughest’ Admission of Life

David Pollack once lived and breathed football—no time for love, no room for distractions. But that changed when he met Lindsey. The only catch? She was from rival Parkview High, while David repped Shiloh Christian. Following that, his friends warned him not to date the “enemy,” but he didn’t care. And in 2005, fresh off being drafted by the Bengals, he married her—his first and only girlfriend. “Best decision I ever made,” wrote David years later. However, they’ve weathered it all: a career-ending neck injury, getting fired by ESPN in 2023, and now, Lindsey’s brave battle with cancer. Honestly, through every twist, they’ve faced life hand-in-hand, and they aren’t giving up…

Well, on March 10, David Pollack broke his silence with heartbreaking news: his wife Lindsey had been diagnosed with brain cancer. “If you are the praying type, please lift up my wife Lindsey,” he posted on X. However, her surgery was scheduled for March 13 at Duke, and after more than 6 hours in the operating room, David shared a video of Lindsey—bandaged, but smiling.

And a week later, there was a glimmer of hope. Yes, on the March 19 episode of his podcast, Pollack shared a much-needed update. “Everything went great, man,” he said with relief. Because doctors had removed the bulk of the tumor. “We got the majority of the mass out,” he added. You can say, in life’s toughest moments, faith and love have a way of lighting the path forward.

David Pollack has always faced life head-on — from the highs of the NFL Draft to the heartbreak of an early career-ending injury. But nothing prepared him for the battle his family is now facing. On the April 15 episode of See Ball Get Ball with Marcus Freeman, the former Georgia star gave a raw update on his wife Lindsey’s fight with brain cancer. “She’s doing great. She’s doing great. We have—we have learned a lot. We are learning a lot. She’s doing good, Marcus,” Pollack said.

Then came the moment that hit the hardest — a tough, honest admission from David Pollack. “She’s—we’re learning a lot. You know, it’s not something that I’ve ever thought about or dealt with and gone through, but, you know, God only puts on you what you can handle.” The weight of those words carried more than just faith — they reflected both helplessness and hope. “And I can say this though—I wish—the hardest part about it, I think, and you can relate to this, and I’ll talk to you about that with your team—it’s not me,” said the former linebacker.

Pollack then opened up about the difference between personal pain and watching someone you love suffer. “You know, like when I broke my neck, it was me, and it was so much easier to deal with,” said Pollack. Although his voice was steady, it was vulnerable. And he continued, “But like, when it’s not you and you can’t fix it, like—I realized she’s God’s before she’s anybody else’s, before she’s mine.” Honestly, it’s a powerful reminder that in the hardest fights, sometimes love means letting go — and trusting something bigger.

Here, David Pollack spoke with heart, reflecting on faith, love, and the journey ahead. “And so, having to strap in and be like, ‘Alright, God. Like, teach me what I need to know. Put me where I need to go.’ And that’s probably been the hardest part,” said the ESPN analyst. But even in the struggle, there’s light breaking through. “She’s—one day at a time. I see more and more glimpses of my baby doll and smiling.” However, through it all, moments of humor still shine, and Pollack said, “The filter has gone away, which is fantastic. Like, she used to be so calculated… and now she might say something like, ‘What? What just happened? I just got slapped.'”

Grateful for the support around him, Pollack turned to Marcus Freeman and said warmly, “Thank you for asking. I appreciate the prayers. And I know you texted me about it. That was really nice.” But while the conversation became serious and emotional, David Pollack lightened the mood with a spicy incident related to his wife and Freeman.

David Pollack shared a spicy, humorous moment

David Pollack shared a funny moment that left Marcus raising an eyebrow. “Speaking of my wife, Lindsey, we’re watching the College Football Semifinals last year, and she sees a picture of you, Marcus. She goes, ‘Hmm.’ I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’ She says, ‘He’s in really good shape.'” David laughed, adding, “She was like, ‘I’m not used to seeing coaches in really good shape.’” Then he chuckled, “I didn’t quite care for the ‘hmm’, but Marcus—do you have a fitness regimen? Are you psychotic about staying in shape, making sure you’re always at your best?” It’s a lighthearted, yet real moment from Pollack, blending humor with curiosity as he shared the story with Freeman.

However, the Notre Dame head coach didn’t hold back when asked about his fitness routine. “I am,” he said with confidence. “For multiple reasons, right? One is, it’s stress relief.” Not only this, he explained how being a routine guy helps him stay grounded. “I’m an early riser. Get in the weight room before the day takes over,” said Marcus.

Then, Marcus shared how, even during the chaos of the season and spring ball, he finds time. “I take advantage of whatever time I can get—45 minutes, whatever it is.” However, in the offseason, he steps it up a notch. “I’ll add a little weight to the bar; try to feel better.” But during spring ball? It’s all about reps, pushing limits for the day ahead. So, “It’s good for the brain, good for the soul,” he said.

Look, it’s more than that. “It’s also about making sure my players know—I’m in there, too. I’m punching that clock,” said Freeman. So,  his commitment, both for himself and his team, shows just how seriously he takes being a leader on and off the field.