In the NFL, you won’t just see players and coaches on the field. Doctors play a big role in keeping their athletes healthy and able to play the sport they love. In just about every game, a player gets injured whether it is minor, or critical to their career in the NFL. You see players limp or get carried off the field during the season in most every game. NFL doctors have a huge role to play, as they keep athletes playing and in top shape.

Most common types of doctors on the field

You can have all types of doctors on the football field but there are a few common types you see most often. Often you will see general physicians, orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, athletic trainers, and even neurologists on the field. All of  them have specific roles they play whether it’s treating a sprained ankle, or saving an athlete’s career from a broken bone, a torn ACL, or any other injury. Usually there is a lead physician who appoints doctors on their team to players who are hurt or seeking advice.

Specific doctors on NFL teams

Pat McKenzie, a physician from the green bay packers specializes in sports medicine, ligament reconstruction, and arthroscopy. He was presented the Jerry “Hawk” award  for seeking no attention, and dedicating most of his time to preventing and treating his athletes first. The Packers head athletic trainer, Pepper Barrus, wrote a recommendation letter supporting the Packers assistant athletic trainer, Bryan Engels, in recommending Pat Mckenzie for the Jerry “Hawk” which made him the physician of the year for the NFL.

Patrick also has a great educational background too. He finished Medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin, finished his Undergraduate degree at St. John’s University, and has residency at Medical College of Wisconsin affiliated Hospitals!

Over his career, Pat McKenzie has treated many big names on the packers such as Aaron Rodgers. One particular time, Rodgers had a broken collarbone that McKenzie oversaw. McKenzie’s decision was to have Aaron sit out. Aaron said that he never wanted to accept that McKenzie’s decision. Rodgers later said that Pat saved Aron from himself, so that he didn’t get further injured.

Timothy McAdamas, the team physician for the San Francisco 49ers is an expert on sports  medicine, knee arthroscopy, elbow arthroscopy, shoulder arthroscopy, knee surgery, and upper extremity injuries. He attended the University of California and Georgetown University School of Medicine in his early days. And now, Timothy has a Residence at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

Dr. John Uribe, the physician for the Miami Dolphins, is a certified orthopedic surgeon at the Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables, Florida. He’s an expert in arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine, and does invasive surgical procedures for degenerative conditions of the knee and shoulder. Additionally, he is the Chairman for the Department of Orthopedics for the Florida International University School of Medicine. And finally, he went to medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel.

The importance of having a doctor on the field

It is very important to have a doctor on the field because a team member may need immediate care. A doctor on the field can provide quick advice, the fastest emergency first aid, and can decide right then and there, whether its ok to keep playing or to take him out of the game so that the injury doesn’t get more severe. The doctors don’t just help the NFL during the games, but also during off season, training, conditioning and nutrition. They also help players feel at ease to the athletes just by having a presence. Without NFL doctors out there caring for the athletes, providing the advice and information that they need, the athletes would never go as far as they could. In fact, there wouldn’t be enough pros still playing today!

Author Bio: Gabriel Nelson works alongside a well known orthopaedic group in Missoula, MT who excel at sports medicine. You can find their website here: http://www.orthopaedic.com/specialties/missoula-sports-medicine/.