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After more than four decades on the sidelines, longtime Detroit Lions assistant Athletic Trainer Joe Recknagel has retired.
Recknagel, a 1974 graduate of Rogers High School, spent 45 years with the franchise, working close to 900 games and witnessing some of the most iconic moments in team history.
Recknagel’s journey began at McTigue Junior High School, where he worked as a team manager, inspired by his older brothers. While at Rogers, he started taking courses to become an Athletic Trainer at just 15 years old.
After earning a degree from Ohio University in 1978 and completing graduate work at Marshall University, he joined the Lions as a summer intern in 1977 and was hired full-time in 1980.
Throughout his tenure, Recknagel worked with legendary players like Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson, and Jared Goff. Recalling Sanders’ first game, he shared,
“Everybody on the Cardinals' defense stopped in their tracks trying to find him. On the next play, he made five guys miss and the place went crazy.” Recknagel also witnessed devastating moments, including guard Mike Utley’s career-ending spinal injury in 1991. “With Mike, we knew right away something was not right. That was really tough,” he said.
Recknagel has seen the Lions through highs and lows, from the 0-16 season to their recent resurgence under head coach Dan Campbell. Reflecting on the playoff atmosphere, he said:
“Everybody talks about Ford Field being loud, but the Silverdome was on another level.”
Now 68, Recknagel decided it was time to step away.
“For all those years, I was in the training room before the sun came up and home after it went down. It was tough on my wife and family,” he admitted.
He now looks forward to spending more time in Bloomfield Hills with his wife Nancy and their three daughters. Read his full interview here!
