After multiple injury-riddled seasons, the New York Jets have created the Athletic Care and Performance Department.
The New York Jets have been riddled with injuries throughout the past couple of years. In fact, since 2019, the team has placed a total of 64 players on injured reserve—good for third in the entire NFL. (Finishing first is Robert Saleh’s former team, the San Francisco 49ers.)
The Jets intend on doing something to change those numbers. On Thursday they announced the creation of the Athletic Care and Performance Department, headed by Dr. Brad DeWeese.
DeWeese has helped Olympic champions and athletes throughout numerous sports achieve championships. Prior to his hire with the Jets, DeWeese was the assistant athletic director for sports performance at East Tennessee State.
We have hired Dr. Brad DeWeese to head our new Athletic Care and Performance Department.
"I want the New York Jets Athletic Care and Performance department to be the leading player development department in the NFL."
— New York Jets (@nyjets) March 11, 2021
“After a thorough review of our sports performance areas, it became clear that in order to maximize our player’s health, safety and effectiveness on the field, we needed to establish a centralized group that would better position our team for success,” said Joe Douglas per a team press release. “During our search for the right person to lead this group Dr. Brad DeWeese impressed us, not only with his proven track record but also with his vision, insight and strategic approach to maximize athletic care and performance.”
The department has already made five hires in addition to Dr. DeWeese. The head strength and conditioning coach is Mike Nicolini, who was the former strength and conditioning coach with the 49ers.
Working under Nicolini will be Dr. Omar Ahmad, who will serve as the assistant strength and conditioning coach. Ahmad was previously the assistant director of athletics and sports performance at Richard Bland College.
Dr. Matt Sams is now the director of sports science within the department. Sams was previously an analyst in the MLB for the Kansas City Royals.
Dr. Robert Sausaman will be holding the position of assistant director of high performance. Sausaman has a connection with DeWeese working at East Tennessee State with the women’s soccer team as the director of sports science/performance from 2016-2019. Most recently, he was the director of applied science at Missouri.
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The department will be responsible for rehab, strength and conditioning, a nutrition staff, and the team’s athletic trainers going forward.
This is an excellent move by the New York Jets, acknowledging that the organization can always get better and expand; creating better opportunities for the players and staff.
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Consider this move as making the Jets a more attractive option for players in Free Agency. Consider, maximizing the players performance. Injury Prevention, and the best ReHab on the planet. Prepare the player, and his body , for post career.