Physical Therapist / Athletic Trainer – Football
Stanford University
About this position
Position Overview
The Physical Therapist / Athletic Trainer – Football is a dual-credentialed clinician and full-time member of the football staff, exclusively embedded within the athletic training department. This position reports directly to the Head Football Athletic Trainer and provides integrated athletic training and physical therapy services dedicated strictly to the football environment. Distinct from a clinic-based model, the role focuses on the seamless transition between clinical rehabilitation and daily athletic training coverage. This role leads and supports injury evaluation, acute care, and rehabilitation through late-stage functional preparation. Working in close alignment with the football physical therapy staff, the position ensures that once defined clinical and functional benchmarks are achieved, the athlete transitions seamlessly into on-field progression. As a collaborative practitioner within a unified medical team, the individual contributes to the Return-to-Play (RTP) process rather than serving as an independent owner of on-field transitions or operating as a standalone clinician. To ensure a consistent continuity of care, the position manages reconditioning in coordination with the RTP Coordinator to maintain clinical integrity throughout the return-to-play phase. This structure is designed to enhance care within a multidisciplinary team while maintaining clear role accountability and an established reporting hierarchy. All daily operations and clinical oversight remain unified under the Football Sports Medicine leadership to provide a cohesive healthcare model for the student-athlete.
Position Description
Provide comprehensive athletic training services for assigned football student-athletes, including:Injury and illness prevention Injury evaluation, assessment, and diagnosis Immediate and emergency care Therapeutic interventions and rehabilitation support Provide practice and game coverage, including home and away events, as assigned by the Head Football Athletic Trainer. Participate in daily athletic training room operations, including taping, bracing, recovery modalities, and injury triage. Make participation status recommendations during practices and competitions in collaboration with sports medicine leadership and team physicians. Maintain emergency readiness at all sanctioned football activities, including adherence to emergency action plans. Assist with pre-participation physical examinations and ongoing injury surveillance. Provide support in administrative areas, as assigned by the athletic training leadership
Qualifications
Required Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy Curriculum with a master's degree Board of Certification Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) - 2–4 years of experience working with high-level football populations (Power 5 collegiate and/or professional) Current CPR/AED certification or ability to obtain by start date Ability to work non-traditional hours aligned with the football calendar, including evenings, weekends, and travel Valid California non-commercial class driver’s license Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills required Preferred Doctoral degree Experience in integrated sports medicine or performance models Experience with post-operative rehabilitation common to football (ACL, shoulder instability, foot/ankle, spine, soft tissue injuries) Familiarity with objective rehab technologies (force plates, isokinetic testing, dynamometry) At DAPER we know diverse teams make better decisions for everyone, so we encourage people of all abilities and backgrounds to apply. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still get in touch. We'd love to have a chat and see if you could be a great add to our team.
Job Location
🔍 Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation, Stanford, California, United States