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Friday fun topic: NFL team doctors: how they are hired and what they do

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Posted 10/6/2023 8:13 AM (GMT -5)
Since we are into football season now, and NFL games are taking place, I thought it might be a little Friday fun to take a look at what the duties of an NFL team doctor, standing on the sidelines during the game and ready to act, are.

A good overall picture of just what they do:

https://www.boardvitals.com/blog/nfl-team-physicians-sports-medicine/


They even have their own organization, The NFL Physicians Society. Its website:

https://nflps.org/

For how to become an NFL team doctor, click on immediately above link and then click on "about" and then downpage to "How Does a Physician Become an NFL Team Physician?"

A good description of the "medical set-up" that exists on the sidelines during an NFL game (it's pretty sophisticated) :

https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/health-and-wellness/player-care/a-21st-century-sideline#:~:text=breaking%20down%20the%20sideline%e2%80%94a%20team%20behind%20the%20team,immediate%20care%20to%20players%20at%20every%20nfl%20game.

Including a word on how the sideline medical tent is meant to function:

https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/health-and-wellness/player-care/medical-examination-tents-to-improve-injury-evaluations-on-nfl-sidelines

And a fairly short Youtube news video on NFL gameday medical preparedness:

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=nfl+medicine+on+field+site%3awww.youtube.com&mid=3fe4d52318ac753317403fe4d52318ac75331740

Certainly some interesting facts about the sophisticated medical services that are immediately available, just yards away, to NFL players should they ever need them.
Posted 10/6/2023 8:43 AM (GMT -5)
I don't think it's true so much now, but in the past I think a big part of a team doctor's duties was to keep players in the game in any way possible. Maybe even if it risked the well-being of players.
Posted 10/6/2023 12:33 PM (GMT -5)
Mattum, “keep players in the game” I can remember well. Four concussions in HS football, when less groggy, get back in. Broken finger, after X-ray in doctor’s office, put a splint on it and cleared to play.
In college baseball, numerous cortisone injections to keep playing. During Padre’s spring training in Yuma we got to play against the Padres several times when I played for Arizona Western College. Once in the Padre’s training room, I witnessed several players getting B12 injections along with cortisone. The Padre’s doctor even gave me one in the knee on the day we played them. I would bet those injections are still ongoing. However concussion protocol is at least keeping players off the field. My best to all,
Jack
Posted 10/6/2023 3:02 PM (GMT -5)
Jack 64- I think player injury protocols are much better now. I remember back in HIGH SCHOOL football in the 1960s to get whacked in the head and knocked out and be told "man up and get back in there" or "winners don't quit, and quitters don't win" and other such nonsense. We also were given VERY little water to "toughen us up" in 100 degree weather. Call out to Paul Simon in "Kodachrome" where he says "when I look back on all the crap I leaned in high school". There were a few things that fall in that category (not all, just some).
Posted 10/13/2023 9:59 AM (GMT -5)
I broke my hand the night before a game and played that Sunday.
Coach took me out because my play was terrible. I couldn't tackle well.
Coach gave me hell because he knew me.
The night before I was drunk and punched a wall!
I was a tough kid and a dumb drunk but eventually I saw the light and no alcohol since 1987
Glen
Posted 10/13/2023 11:16 AM (GMT -5)
Many years ago, I tore my rotator cuff for the second time. The surgeon who originally repaired it 10 years earlier, had gotten too big, and I didn't want to deal with 2 hour waits. So I called the New York Jets, and asked for the name of their Chief Orthopedist. His name was Ken Montgomery, and as of last season at least, he was now their Chief Medical Officer.

He was terrific. Friendly, professional, proficient, and always willing to talk Jets football. He fixed my cuff, (I've since torn it a third time, but am not willing to do a third surgery, so I rehabbed it and its good enough) you would never know he was a hot shot on an NFL football team. As an added bonus, his nurses were all very hot. Even my wife commented that they all looked like they were just off a soap opera set LOL.

Ultimately when the Jets moved to New Jersey, he moved with them, so I am without a trusted orthopedist in NY
Posted 10/15/2023 9:17 AM (GMT -5)
Pratoman, I tore my rotator cuff in 2014. It was repaired by a local orthopedic. The second time I went for a second surgery, same ortho, the doctor said after the surgery it was too badly damaged to repair. Now I am recovering from a reverse shoulder replacement. I wish I would have thought of finding the U OF AZ orthopedic doctor in the beginning. That was a great move on your part. My nurses were not “Hot” as were yours, however my wife probably appreciated that. The professional and University sports doctors are great, but it is their rehab facilities and care that get the players back in the game.
My Arizona team beat the 19 th ranked Cougars on Saturday 44 to 6. We lost to two other ranked PAC teams by a few points, one in overtime. Our new Quarterback although small is a great passer and his receivers were with him in HS. It will be fun facing Colorado this year. Luckily we skip Oregon this year. Although it would be great to beat them as well. My best to all,
Jack
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