About Us
April 29, 2024
Author: Melissa L. Weber
For fans of professional football, the ultimate game-day experience is the Super Bowl. For an athletic trainer who loves football, serving with a team during the big game might be a dream come true. For Athletic Training alumna Kelly Weller, that dream has come true twice during her post-graduate internships with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Weller was drawn to healthcare as a high school student. An athlete herself, she considered sports medicine and was fortunate to shadow an athletic trainer at her high school, who was also a “great teacher.” She knew right away that she wanted to become an athletic trainer.
For some fans, the medical emergency of a Buffalo Bills player at a Cincinnati Bengals game during the 2022 football season showed Athletic Training in a new light.
“People saw athletic trainers as “first responders,” Weller said. “We are prepared with emergency action plans and can do more than treat musculoskeletal injuries.”
Undergraduate training
Weller knew the Athletic Training program at Ohio State was special for many reasons, one of which is access to a top collegiate football program.
“My brother played football, and I always enjoyed watching it,” Weller said. Every athletic training student spends several weeks with the football team at Ohio State.
“I loved it,” she said. From summer camp to spring football, early mornings to late nights, she appreciated the dedication of the players and coaches and the opportunity to learn as much as possible.
Weller spent her collegiate senior year at Hilliard Bradley High School in Hilliard, Ohio and a summer internship with the New York Giants, thanks to staff connections at Ohio State.
Post-graduate success
When she completed her undergraduate degree in 2022, she sent applications to numerous teams for a post-graduation internship and was thrilled to get interviews with the Washington Commanders and the Chiefs.
“My dad’s family is from Kansas City, and I have relatives there,” she said. Beyond the family connection, she was also impressed with the Athletic Training staff who worked with the Chiefs: Five full-time staff included two women and three men.
“The athletes made my days so special,” she said. “They were so respectful. It was a privilege to work with them.” Weller was careful to respect them as well.
“These men are our patients,” Weller said. “They deserve privacy, not just because of HIPPA.
I tried not to take advantage of their fame and fortune.” Instead, she made friendships she believes will last her lifetime.
Record-setting cold
In addition to attending the Super Bowl twice, Weller also took part in a record-setting playoff game on January 13, 2024. The Kansas City Chiefs playoff game against the Miami Dolphins was the fourth-coldest game in NFL history.
“I had heaters in my socks, gloves and hat,” Weller said. She still felt the cold. Following that game, medical professionals in the Kansas City area reported treating fans for frostbite, including several people who eventually needed amputations of fingers or toes.
“People needed to take precautions,” she said. The Chiefs sent an infographic to fans with recommendations for proper dress during the bitter cold. Staff members worked on player education.
“Some of the men didn’t want to wear sleeves,” Weller said. Heaters, jackets and gloves on the sidelines helped protect players in between plays.
Next steps
While working in Kansas City, Weller also took classes and completed a master’s degree in health promotion and exercise science. After participating in two post-degree internships with the Chiefs, she is now seeking a regular full-time position and is looking for openings in high schools and colleges. She looks forward to learning more and eventually leading a program.
“The athletic trainers at Ohio State help students be the best they can be,” Weller said. “I have so much respect for them, and a lot more to learn.”
The opportunity to be on the field during the Super Bowl might not happen again.
“Some people work their whole lives and careers to get there, and I had it twice right out of school,” she said. “I believe seeing that success and drive can help me achieve my next step.”
UPDATE: July 2024 Weller has accepted an Athletic Training internship with the Ohio State Football and Men’s Tennis teams.