The Green Bay Packers have named Pepper Burrussdirector of sports medicine administration and promoted Bryan Engel to head athletic trainer, Packers Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson announced Wednesday.
Burruss is entering his 39th season in the NFL and has spent the past 22 as the head athletic trainer for Green Bay. The Wappingers Falls, N.Y., native joined the Packers in 1993 following 16 seasons with the New York Jets as an assistant athletic trainer. Burruss has won several awards during his career, including being honored as the NFL Physicians Society's Outstanding NFL Athletic Trainer for the 2012 season. In 2011, he and his staff were honored by its peers with the NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year award.
"Pepper has been a vital member of this organization since 1993 and we will continue to rely on his expertise and wisdom in his new role," Thompson said.
Engel originally joined Green Bay in 1997 as a seasonal assistant and has served as an assistant athletic trainer for the Packers since 1999. He was honored with the 2013 Tim Davey NFC Assistant Athletic Trainer Award. Prior to joining Green Bay, Engel was a seasonal assistant with the New England Patriots in 1996-97 after serving as a training camp intern in 1995.
"We are excited about Bryan's opportunity as he has been a great asset to the organization," Thompson said. "He has worked diligently over the years and grown into his new responsibility, in which he will oversee the Packers athletic training staff."
