On January 5th, NFL enthusiasts were ready for an intense competition between two of the league’s best teams. The Cincinnati Bengals were hosting the Buffalo Bills, and the first quarter began without incident. But with less than 6 minutes left in the quarter, Bills’ safety, Damar Hamlin, collapsed after making a tackle. With all staring in disbelief, Hamlin lay motionless, suffering a cardiac arrest. But not all were frozen in panic. Athletic trainers jumped into action, demonstrating their skills, expertise, and commitment. And because of that, Damar Hamlin is alive and recovering today.
When it comes to athletic trainers in professional sports, these healthcare professionals often go unappreciated and unnoticed. But the role of athletic trainers in all of sports are extensive as is their training. Fortunately for Damar Hamlin, those on the Buffalo Bills staff acted quickly. And in the process, their actions brought attention to the important role of athletic trainers at every level of sports. With that in mind, the following provides greater insight about what these healthcare professionals do and the expertise they possess.
“One hero who should be recognized here: Last night, I was told the work of Bills assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington in administering CPR to Damar Hamlin on Monday was absolutely vital. The speed and skill with which he and others reacted = A huge difference-maker.” – Tweet by Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated Journalist[i]
A Typical Day in the Life…
When it comes to an average day for athletic trainers, it might be said no such thing exists. For most, every day poses a new set of challenges, perhaps no different than other healthcare professionals. Certainly, the role of athletic trainers during practice and in games has a set structure to an extent. But every athlete has different needs when it comes to their physical performance and well-being. That means athletic trainers truly embrace a patient-centric care approach. And in the heat of intense activity, anything can happen, including unexpected events like that of damar Hamlin.
Athletic trainers in professional sports must therefore be prepared for anything. In terms of non-emergent sports needs, the role of athletic trainers often pertains to the more mundane issues. Sports injuries like torn knee ligaments, low back injuries, and strained tendons are common and require routine care. But at the same time, athletic trainers must deal with emergency care as well. In addition to cardiac arrest, sports emergencies can also involve heat strokes, concussions and spinal cord injuries. As is evident by these responsibilities, athletic trainers boast tremendous talents and skills.
“It’s something that we train for and we train for, but we hope we never have to deal with that. During the situation, you just respond. After the fact, you get them transported to where they need to go, feelings and emotions come on, so I felt for the medical staff for both teams.” – Willie Phillips, Athletic Trainer, Hampton, Virginia[ii]
What It Takes to Be an Athletic Trainer
Understanding the roles of athletic trainers, it’s not surprising that they undergo serious education and training. This is especially true for athletic trainers in professional sports. The vast majority of these healthcare professionals pursue a masters’ level degree. Likewise, in addition to having credentials associated with this, most attain board certification as well. In this regard, their coursework and practical experience in athletics is tremendous. This is why they are ready to handle any specific sports-related emergencies in practice or during a game. And they are similarly well versed in educating players about how to best achieve their sports goals.
When it comes to athletic trainers in professional sports, the road to success is a little different than other healthcare professions. In other disciplines, the career path is often on a better-define trajectory. As an athletic trainer, one might presume working at in a high school sports program might eventually lead to professional sports opportunities. But this is often not the case as athletic trainers can become labeled according to that setting. Instead, entry into professional sports often requires unpaid internships that serve as a prolonged audition or interview. It also helps to network with key individuals who might help with one’s advancement. For athletic trainers interested in professional sports, these investments are usually required.
“The vast majority of your applications [for professional sports athletic trainers] won’t even be acknowledged. It’s very competitive. You’re not guaranteed success, but the more repetitions and effort you put in, the better your odds are going to be.” – Toby Brooks, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of the Athletic Training Program[iii]
Cultivating Skills for Success
In addition to education, training and networking skills, athletic trainers in professional sports must embody other attributes as well. Certainly, they are dedicated to their craft and are passionate about helping athletes be their absolute best. But at the same time, in order to realize their passions, they must be able to engage and relate to others. Athletic trainers who are able to communicate effectively with their clients are the best educators. Likewise, listening and understanding their clients’ needs helps them form bonds with players, which fosters success. It is precisely this combination of communication and relationship skills with their expert knowledge that characterizes the best athletic trainers.
Of course, having these skills and insights does little good without application. The role of athletic trainers thus requires having these talents and putting them into practice when the time is right. Denny Kellington, the Buffalo Bills’ assistant athletic trainer who performed CPR on Damar Hamlin, demonstrated this to the extreme. His ability to jump into action, apply his expertise, and focus on the task at hand gave Damar Hamlin a fighting chance. So the next time you hear mention of any athletic trainer in professional sports, think about Kellington. These are often some of the most dedicated yet unsung heroes healthcare professionals around.
[i] The Buffalo News. (2022). Who is Danny Kellington, a Bills assistant athletic trainer lauded for reviving Damar Hamlin? BuffaloNews.com. Retrieved from https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/who-is-danny-kellington-a-bills-assistant-athletic-trainer-lauded-for-reviving-damar-hamlin/article_29e14c68-8d19-11ed-94ba-d7092bb6dcf1.html
[ii] Davis, M. (2022). Damar Hamlin emergency hits home with athletic trainers. WTKR.com. Retrieved from https://www.wtkr.com/sports/damar-hamlin-emergency-hits-home-with-athletic-trainers
[iii] Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. (2022). How to Become an Athletic Trainer in the NFL. Daily Dose. Retrieved from https://dailydose.ttuhsc.edu/shp-become-an-athletic-trainer.aspx
