He played for the Ohio League (OL) and National Football League (NFL) Cleveland Tigers, the independent Douglas Independents, the independent Bradley Eagles, and the National Football League (NFL) Rochester Jeffersons, appearing in between 17 and 18 NFL games.
He went to Fifth Avenue High School and attended college at the University of Pittsburgh.
Pearlman was part of the undefeated 1917 team under coach Pop Warner.
He became ineligible to return in 1918 after playing in a basketball game using another name, violating the rules.
[2] He played for two teams in 1920: the Cleveland Tigers of the newly formed American Professional Football Association (now National Football League), and the independent Douglas Independents.