NFL Team Report Cards and Athletic Trainer Achievements

As the NFL season has wrapped up, there has been a lot of talk about the NFL Player Team Report Cards for 2024. 

The report cards are a way to enhance working conditions and support career decisions for its athletes.

The NFL Players' Union asks the players to evaluate team facilities across the league. Garnering insights from 1,706 players, the union aimed to spotlight teams excelling in providing a conducive environment for their players, pinpoint areas ripe for improvement, and establish a benchmark of best practices and standards.

This endeavor underscores the union's commitment to not just advocate for players' rights but also foster a culture of excellence and safety across all team facilities.

You can read about their grades in the report. One of the category grades we pay attention to is the “Training Staff” and it seems like the NFL Athletic Trainers are generally well-regarded.

• The Giants’ head AT Ronnie Barnes got high marks. (From the report: “The first item that deserves recognition is the work by the team’s training staff, as players gave high marks to long-time head trainer Ronnie Barnes, with 96% of players responding that they receive an adequate amount of one-on-one treatment time, which ranks 1st in the NFL.“)
• The Dolphins ranked their training staff as first overall for significant contributions to their success. 94% of players feel like they receive enough one-on-one treatment (4th overall)
• The Panthers made improvements to the training room since last season that players seem to have appreciated. 93% of players feel like they received enough one-on-one treatment (5th overall) and they feel that the training staff significantly contributed to their success (2nd overall)

Amidst this league-wide appraisal, there was a singular achievement that should have captured the spotlight, but seemed to be lost in the noise.

Jeff Ferguson, the VP of Health and Performance for the Jaguars, was honored with the NFL's highest accolade for an Athletic Trainer, the Fain Cain Memorial Award for Outstanding NFL Athletic Trainer of the Year.

This prestigious award, bestowed by the NFL Physicians' Society, celebrates Ferguson's unparalleled contribution to the field of athletic training.

Dr. Kevin Kaplan, the Jaguars' Head Team Physician, lauded Ferguson's dedication and expertise, noting,

"Ferg embodies the very best in what an Athletic Trainer should be in today's NFL."

Ferguson's career, marked by significant tenures with the San Francisco 49ers and the XFL before his impactful work with the Jaguars, exemplifies the blend of medical knowledge, leadership, and compassion for players that the award seeks to recognize.

The Fain-Cain award, named after esteemed team physicians Dr. Thomas E. Cain and Dr. Robert H. Fain of the old Houston Oilers, honors NFL Athletic Trainers who exemplify professional excellence and a profound commitment to the welfare of players.

Ferguson's receipt of this award not only highlights his individual achievements but also reflects the broader efforts of the NFL and its teams to prioritize player health and safety.

This focus on improving working conditions and recognizing exemplary service is a testament to the evolving landscape of professional sports, where the well-being of players is increasingly placed at the forefront of the league's priorities.