Philadelphia Eagles head athletic trainer steps down after 19 seasons

The Philadelphia Eagles officially announced that their director of sports medicine and head athletic trainer, Chris Peduzzi, is stepping down after 19 seasons with the team.

Peduzzi originally joined the Eagles’ staff in 1999, which was Andy Reid’s first season in Philadelphia. Peduzzi was promoted to head athletic trainer in 2013 when the guy who previously held his position, Rick Burkholder, left to follow Reid to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Eagles were one of the healthiest teams in the NFL from 2013 through 2016. The injury bug bit Philadelphia hard in 2017, however, with a number of key players going down to season-ending injuries: Carson Wentz (ACL), Jason Peters (ACL), Darren Sproles (ACL and broken arm), Jordan Hicks (Achilles), and Chris Maragos (PCL). Despite these injuries, the Eagles still managed to win the Super Bowl. Yes, that really happened.

With Peduzzi leaving, it remains to be seen who will take his place.

Chris Peduzzi statement

“It has been an honor and a blessing to be part of this organization for the past 19 seasons. I especially want to thank Mr. Lurie for his faith in me to care for the health of his players. I never took that lightly. I also want to thank Coach Pederson and Howie Roseman for the opportunity. I have had the pleasure of working alongside so many great people, from my staff and co-workers to our coaches and of course the players. More than anything, I am going to miss those daily interactions. However, I do believe the time is right for me and for my family to step away and take some time off. This was not an easy decision, but one that I have put much thought into and I appreciate the organization’s support and wish them all the best in the future. I am so proud of what we have been able to achieve together. To bring the Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia this year was an amazing experience and I believe we have built a strong foundation that the team can continue to build on for years to come.”

Philadelphia Eagles statement

“We thank Chris for his contributions over the last 19 seasons and we wish him and his family all the best.”