The NFL made an announcement in a league-wide memo sent to teams on Wednesday, providing details on the search for a new Chief Medical Officer.
A shakeup is coming to the NFL’s league medical office as the league is now looking to hire a new Chief Medical Officer, according to a league-wide memo that was sent to all 32 teams on Wednesday morning.
Dr. Elliott Pellman, who had been working for both the NFL and the New York Jets for nearly 30 years, announced his retirement on Wednesday. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, a league source has indicated that the retirement and subsequent shakeup were requested by league commissioner Roger Goodell.
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In the memo, Goodell explained that the position would be “designed to accelerate science, identify new technologies and means of preventing and treating injuries, and make our sport safer.” The new Chief Medical Officer would be responsible for working with medical staffs around the league, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and the various NFL medical committees.
Goodell’s request and Pellman’s retirement come at a critical time for the NFL, as pressure builds around over the issues of concussion protocols, the commissioner’s power in disciplinary actions against players and, most recently, the “Deflategate” ruling, which resulted in a four-game suspension for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
According to Goodell, the search for the NFL’s new Chief Medical Officer will begin on Thursday, and will be conducted by a panel of esteemed “health and medical experts.” The memo also stated that these panels would work closely with Jeff Miller, who is the Senior Vice President of Health and Safety Policy for the league.
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