For their steadfast commitment and distinguished service to their club, community, and athletic training profession, the Washington Redskins athletic training staff has been named the 2018 Ed Block Courage Award NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year.
The annual award, named after the head athletic trainer for the Baltimore Colts, who demonstrated tireless contributions towards the healthcare of his team, along with his efforts as a humanitarian, recognizes an NFL staff for its similar work.
The honor, which the Redskins training staff last won in 1995, is voted on by members of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society and will be presented at the 41st Ed Block Courage Award Foundation Gala on March 23.
Leading the group is head athletic trainer Larry Hess, who just finished his 17th season with the Redskins and his eighth as the head athletic trainer. He previously spent four seasons as the Redskins Director of Rehabilitation (2006-09) after originally joining the club as Physical Therapist/Assistant Athletic Trainer (2002-05).
Hess oversees the team's athletic training and medical needs and works as a liaison to the coaching staff and front office. In 2018, Hess played a leading role in creating a state-of-the-art recovery center at Inova Sports Performance Center at Redskins Park, visiting other facilities across various sports and continents before implementing his vision for the nearly 2,000-square-foot center in the facility's southwest corner. The innovative center features a cryotherapy chamber, photobiomodulation therapy bed and sensory deprivation float orbs in addition to a dedicated space for sports vision training.
The team's Director of Rehabilitation Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer is Elliott Jermyn, who has been a member of the Redskins training staff for the past 11 years. He specializes in orthopedic rehabilitation, manual management of chronic pain syndromes, dry needling and post-surgical recovery.
Hess and Germyn are joined by assistant athletic trainers Doug Quon and Mark McCracken. Quon just finished his eight year with the team assisting in the management of care, prevention, recognition and evaluation of injuries, treatment and rehabilitation of all players and team personnel. He also maintains the ImPACT concussion testing database in compliance with the National Football League and coordinates athletic training internships, inventory of supplies and medical information.
McCracken wrapped up his fourth year with the Redskins after joining the team full-time in 2016. He joined the Redskins staff after a brief stint as the Head Athletic Trainer for the AFL's Washington Valor, where he directed the team's Sports Medicine Department in advance of their inaugural season.
Rounding out the group is Hutch Call, the team's third assistant athletic trainer and Director of Player Recovery. He finished his first year with the Redskins in 2018, working closely with the strength and conditioning staff to develop physical performance systems and programs to help players in daily recovery and over all athletic development.
