NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 39
Players’ Rights To Medical Care and Treatment

Section 2
Club Athletic Trainers

By the opening of training camps for the 2021 Season, each Club shall employ or retain the services of at least one (1) athletic trainer to serve as the Head Athletic Trainer and two (2) additional athletic trainers to serve as Assistant Athletic Trainers on a full-time basis. Any individual hired for the first time after the execution of this Agreement to perform services as an athletic trainer for a Club must, as of the hiring date; (a) have a Master’s Degree; (b) be a Member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and be certified by the Board of Certification (BOC); and (c) hold a current certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support or Basic Trauma Life Support. In addition to these requirements, any individual hired for the first time after the execution of this Agreement to perform services as a Head Athletic Trainer for a Club must, as of the hiring date, have at least five (5) years of experience as an athletic trainer since he/she first received the foregoing NATA/BOC certification and demonstrated experience working with elite athlete populations (i.e., Division I Collegiate, Olympic, or professional level athletes). Each Club must also employ or retain the services of at least one (1) full-time physical therapist. For the avoidance of doubt, the full-time physical therapist may also serve as one (1) of the two (2) Assistant Athletic Trainers if he or she meets the qualifications of both positions. Any individual hired for the first time after the execution of this Agreement to perform services as a physical therapist must have a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. All Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists, regardless of dates of hiring, shall complete annual Continuing Education Units (CEUs)/Evidence Based Practices (EBPs) specific to concussion, heat acclimatization, behavioral health, and pain management.