How much money do NFL team physicians make?

[Ed_Flecko]

It's always been interesting to me that NFL teams have their own M.D. on the sidelines to examine players upon injury. I'll bet these Doctors have a pretty impressive resume to be hired for that type of job. I also think it would be pretty cool to travel with the teams.

My Wife had knee surgery a long time ago by a very well known Orthopedic surgeon in the Lake Tahoe basin. Dan Marino was there at that time and came over to her, introduced himself, and gave her some suggestions for her physical therapy. She told him she had no idea who he was.



What kind of salary do you think these Doctors earn? I've got to think it's a lot of money.

Ed

 

[JeffKeryk]

It's always been interesting to me that NFL teams have their own M.D. on the sidelines to examine players upon injury. I'll bet these Doctors have a pretty impressive resume to be hired for that type of job. I also think it would be pretty cool to travel with the teams.

My Wife had knee surgery a long time ago by a very well known Orthopedic surgeon in the Lake Tahoe basin. Dan Marino was there at that time and came over to her, introduced himself, and gave her some suggestions for her physical therapy. She told him she had no idea who he was.



What kind of salary do you think these Doctors earn? I've got to think it's a lot of money.

Ed

The Orthopedic Surgeon who did my knee in high school worked for the Raiders and 9ers.

 

[Astro14]

Entry level for an Orthopedic Surgeon is in the $300-400,000 range. With experience, double that. Reckon the NFL team doctor commands salary commensurate with experience, so, better part of a million.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

It's always been interesting to me that NFL teams have their own M.D. on the sidelines to examine players upon injury. I'll bet these Doctors have a pretty impressive resume to be hired for that type of job. I also think it would be pretty cool to travel with the teams.

My Wife had knee surgery a long time ago by a very well known Orthopedic surgeon in the Lake Tahoe basin. Dan Marino was there at that time and came over to her, introduced himself, and gave her some suggestions for her physical therapy. She told him she had no idea who he was.



What kind of salary do you think these Doctors earn? I've got to think it's a lot of money.

Ed

A couple hundred thousand. Then there are MD's who are specialists for certain injuries which everyone uses.

 

[y_p_w]

Team doctors generally have their own practice outside the team. I've heard that some NFL team doctors are primary care doctors.

 

[mk378]

They are likely to know more about orthopedics than a typical primary care doctor, but the traveling team doctor's role is primary care. Someone else will be doing surgery.

 

[Hall]

It's always been interesting to me that NFL teams have their own M.D. on the sidelines to examine players upon injury.

You'd probably be shocked at the staffing that exists inside almost all professional sports "businesses" as well as many college-level ones.

 

[Lubener]

I am reading nothing but guesswork here as far as compensation goes.

 

[John105]

The Orthopedic Surgeon who did my knee in high school worked for the Raiders and 9ers.

My buddy’s dad was the team physician for a NHL team growing up. Maybe it was a different time but they were not super rich. I got the feeling such a role paid less than a partner at a big 8 (it was 8 back then).

Seems a lot of unglamorous jobs do pay well, though. Slow and steady.

 

[Qirinth3]

It's always been interesting to me that NFL teams have their own M.D. on the sidelines to examine players upon injury. I'll bet these Doctors have a pretty impressive resume to be hired for that type of job. I also think it would be pretty cool to travel with the teams.

My Wife had knee surgery a long time ago by a very well known Orthopedic surgeon in the Lake Tahoe basin. Dan Marino was there at that time and came over to her, introduced himself, and gave her some suggestions for her physical therapy. She told him she had no idea who he was.



What kind of salary do you think these Doctors earn? I've got to think it's a lot of money.
It’s kinda wild how people underestimate what team physicians can pull in when the NFL logo gets involved. Like yeah, a regular ortho surgeon already makes serious money, but when you’re attached to a franchise (plus all the “connections” and prestige), it turns into a totally different game. It reminds me of casino odds - the house is always stacked, but the people closest to the table get the best payouts. Fans see the players’ contracts and think that’s the whole jackpot, but the support crew is quietly betting big too. Also, the whole situation feels like high-stakes poker: one bad call on an injury timeline and suddenly you’re the guy who tanked a season. If you’re into the money side of sports and want a fun way to keep that gambling vibe going, check out https://casino-portugal.pt/pt/ because it’s packed with solid casino info and game options without the sketchy nonsense. Honestly, it’s crazy how much money swirls around sports, medicine, and betting all at once.
Ed

I’d bet the NFL team physician “salary” is all over the place because it’s not like a normal W2 job where the team just cuts a big paycheck.

 

[drfeelgood]

My head physician assistant in my practice used to work for a private practice orthopedic group in south Florida. The group was team physicians for a certain south Florida professional sports team. They had to pay the team to be their team physicians, essentially gaining advertising and prestige. They got to treat the athletes, who had PPO health insurance and likely attracted other patients due to their status.

 

[Hall]

The group was team physicians for a certain south Florida professional sports team. They had to pay the team to be their team physicians, essentially gaining advertising and prestige. They got to treat the athletes, who had PPO health insurance and likely attracted other patients due to their status.

That seems believable. Around here, almost all of the high school sports facilities are named (or co-named) after different hospital / health networks. These groups pay the school districts for naming rights, they get to advertise and have their name on the scoreboard and elsewhere, likely bigger than everyone else. They also have a PA or NP or physical therapist available at practices and games.

You definitely hear about doctors that treat pro athletes, do incredible work, then everyone wants to go to them when they have an injury.

 

[crashz]

That seems ridiculous to me. A sports franchise relies on healthy players. I'd expect the medical staff (Doctors, trainers, nutritionists) to be essential.

That's like having a Nascar team with volunteer mechanics, trying to drum up business for their hometown garage.