The guy squirting water into Zach Ertz’s mouth is Joe O’Pella. He’s an athletic trainer that’s been with the team for over 15 years at this point.
NFL teams don’t really have water boys, athletic trainers are usually the ones responsible for having water on the practice field and during games, but this post is absolutely hilarious.
A guy who rehabbed my ACL tear in my second year, has a masters degree from Pitt, and has years of experience keeping Eagles players healthy and on the field being called a “Waterboy” is crazy, and I’m already giving him shit for it, but good lord this post is so wildly misleading.
Either way, thought I’d clear the air, that the people with Water Bottles during games actually serve much bigger roles on NFL Teams.
Join us in welcoming the latest Leadership Development Alliance Class of 2025.
Ultimately, 13 members were selected after another year of record-setting applications.
These coaches will take part in a premier leadership development course in June, and again at January clinic
Every Athletic Trainer, Coach, educator, parent of a child in sports and Athletic Director should read this story.
The only hope is that progress and improvement is made on every level.
After Damar Hamlin collapsed in Cincinnati, a team of medical professionals immediately ran onto the field.
@Stephania_ESPN dives deeper into how the NFL's in-place procedures assisted in saving Hamlin's life.
https://t.co/0CH1hPYSs5
This is a problem, man. How is WV AT Association or NATA not on this? They're using LPNs or RNs in place of an AT? They're still using the term athletic trainer. It's not okay.
Quickest way to be needed as an AT: have a meal. If your athletes even sense that you’re eating, they will immediately need something. #ATtwitter#AT4All