The NFL, NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) and Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) are committed to increasing diversity in sports medicine. The NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative was developed to encourage medical students from diverse backgrounds to consider sports medicine careers, and over time, help to diversify NFL club medical staffs.

The program provides medical students with the opportunity to complete a clinical rotation with NFL club medical staffs across the league. During their rotations, students observe and participate in the care of players in NFL club settings. Students work directly with and under the supervision of the orthopedic team physicians, primary care team physicians, athletic trainers, dietitians, mental health clinicians, strength & conditioning coaches, equipment managers and other members of medical staff to gain basic medical knowledge and exposure to patient care in sports medicine.

Additionally, students become familiar with return-to-play guidelines and on-field treatment considerations for NFL players. Students may also have the opportunity to attend home games and be present on the sideline for observation. By the end of the rotation, students understand the basic elements of all facets of care provided to NFL players from an orthopedic, primary care sports medicine and athletic training perspective.

The inaugural program for the 2022 season comprised students from the four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) medical schools – Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Howard University College of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and Morehouse School of Medicine. The program has since expanded, and in 2024, student participants will join clubs from 21 total medical schools.

More information on the 2024 program can be found here and a complete roster of the 2024 participating students can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did the NFL, NFLPS and PFATS launch this initiative?

A: We know that diversity makes us stronger. Diverse medical students in-training, including those training to become sports medicine-focused physicians, are historically underrepresented.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, enrollment of diverse students is increasing. During the 2023-24 academic year, "the number of American Indian or Alaska Native matriculants rose 14.7%," and "Hispanic, Latino or of Spanish Origin matriculants increased 4.5%." While "the number of Black or African American matriculants remained stable, falling slightly by 0.1%, they made up 10.0% of total matriculants, up from 8.4% in 2016-17." The NFL's Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative aims to provide more students with an interest in sports medicine exposure and opportunities in the field.

Additionally, it is well-established in scientific and medical literature that diverse medical staff lead to improved patient outcomes, and our organizations are committed to providing world-class care for NFL players. This initiative is part of a long-term effort to help broaden the pipeline of diverse medical professionals entering the field of sports medicine.

According to the NFLPS, in 2023, 86 percent of their membership identify as white, 8 percent identify as Asian, 5 percent identify as Black, and 1 percent identify as Hispanic. According to PFATS, 65 percent of their membership identify as white, 23 percent identify as Black, 8 percent identify as Hispanic, and 4 percent identify as Asian.

Q: Who do the medical students work with during their clinical rotations?

A: Medical students will work directly with the orthopedic team physicians, primary care team physicians, athletic trainers, dietitians, mental health clinicians, strength & conditioning coaches, equipment managers, and other members of the club medical staff to gain basic medical knowledge and exposure to patient care in sports medicine.

More frequently asked questions and answers can be found here.