University Of Delaware: Full-Time NFL Athletic Trainer

Press release from the University of Delaware:

October 26, 2021

Megan O’Hanlon uses UD athletic training undergraduate program to land job with the Houston Texans

Megan O’Hanlon, a 2018 alumna of the University of Delaware and a seasonal intern athletic trainer with the Houston Texans, has been promoted to assistant athletic trainer where she joins 2011 alumni Uriah Myrie on staff. O’Hanlon becomes the first woman from UD’s athletic training undergraduate program to reach this position for the NFL.

“Seeing our fans back in the stadium is a tremendous difference for our players and staff,” O’Hanlon said. “Watching this process of transitioning back to in-person in the stands is one of the most impactful changes we’ve seen.”

O’Hanlon graduated in 2018 from the athletic training undergraduate program in UD’s Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology. The program is the only one accredited in the state of Delaware by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, and consists of a rigorous two-year curriculum to prepare students to be skillful and compassionate during their careers in athletic training.

“I started getting exposure to an NFL-level of athletic training at UD,” O’Hanlon said. “Learning the instructions and processes this way made a difference in preparing me for a career with the NFL. This motivated me into exploring and pursuing this opportunity. I interned while I was at UD and had an amazing experience. The staff was energetic and always working towards being more efficient and productive to provide us with an excellent learning experience.

“The connections I made through UD helped me get to this opportunity. Working with another Blue Hen is exciting, and we share the same connections, background, and experiences to build from. UD had such an integral part in building the foundation for what I use every day. The way our professors taught us was critical — there was an emphasis on teaching us to stay calm in complex situations and the process of being timely. What we learned from real athletic trainers went straight to our clinical training. The professionalism of handling athletic training from a holistic approach is what makes it truly stand out at UD. I saw a Facebook memory two days ago from my first football game with UD. Thinking back to the person I was back then, all I wanted to do was work here with the NFL. Now five years later, I have my dream job and I have so much to look back on and to continue growing for the next five years moving forward.”

This press release was produced by the University of Delaware. The views expressed here are the author’s own.