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In the high-contact world of the NFL, where every game brings a risk of injury, the role of the Athletic Trainer is literally indispensable. Kyle Johnston, the Miami Dolphins’ dedicated AT, embodies this crucial function, weaving a safety net of prehabilitation, injury prevention, and rehabilitation around the players.
With over two decades of experience, Johnston's journey from the University of Florida to Louisville, and finally to the Dolphins, underscores his deep commitment to athlete health.
Johnston, a man of humility and dedication, dispenses with the hero talk often associated with him.
“We often say, it takes a village... I see it the same way with our players. We are one piece of the puzzle on taking care of all their needs.”
His work, though vital, is just a part of a larger team approach, integrating strength and conditioning, nutrition, and mental health to address and preempt the myriad challenges athletes face, both on the field and off.
The Dolphins, under Johnston's care, are part of a league-wide trend seeing a reduction in injuries, with the NFL reporting a significant decrease in ACL tears and lower extremity strains in 2023.
Johnston's nuanced understanding of the pressures and challenges facing NFL players—where careers are notoriously short-lived and injuries can be career-altering—drives his all-encompassing approach to care.
“If we can keep those things from happening, we feel like we’ve accomplished a lot.”
Johnston's path to the Dolphins was shaped by his formative years in high school and the University of Kentucky, setting a foundation of hard work, respect, and a love for sports medicine. This background, coupled with his professional experiences, has equipped him to navigate the complexities of NFL athletic training.
His decision to join the Dolphins, propelled by the rarity of such positions and the allure of working at the pinnacle of sports medicine, reflects a deep-seated passion for his work.
The culture of the Dolphins, as Johnston describes, is one of unity and shared direction, from the ownership down to the various departments.
This cohesive environment fosters a robust support system for players, enabling them to face and overcome adversities with resilience. Johnston’s philosophy, much like Coach Mike McDaniel’s, sees adversity as an opportunity, a mindset that permeates the team’s approach to challenges.
Kyle Johnston's story is a testament to the impact of Athletic Trainers in the NFL. His dedication not only to the physical well-being of the Dolphins' players but also to their mental and emotional health, sets a standard for what it means to care in the high-stakes world of professional sports.
As Johnston humbly navigates his role, his impact resonates far beyond the training room, echoing in the lives of the athletes he serves and the team that thrives under his watch.
