The Baltimore Ravens added Adrian Dixon as their new head certified athletic trainer on Tuesday, February 22, 2022.
“We are excited to announce the addition of Adrian Dixon as our new Head Certified Athletic Trainer,” Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta stated in a team press release. “Over the course of the last month, after meeting with multiple qualified candidates, it became quite evident that Adrian possessed all the traits and skills necessary to help us become the best player wellness program in the National Football League. We were very impressed by Adrian’s servant leadership, his passion for the challenge, and his vision for our training room. Adrian will work closely with Dr. Andy Tucker, our Chief Medical Officer, and lead a talented and respected staff of trainers including Ron Medlin, Kevin Domboski and Mike Blankenship, among others. Adrian will start tomorrow and lead us at the Combine next week in Indianapolis.”
Dixon held various roles with the Tennessee Titans from 2012 to 2021. Most recently, Dixon served as the Titans’ director of physical therapy and sports rehabilitation. The Titans set an NFL record last season by having 91 different players on the roster on game day.
The Ravens dealt with a variety of injuries that hampered their playoff hopes last season. The team lost running backs JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill before their first game of the season in addition to All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters.
In total, Baltimore placed 18 players on injured reserve last season. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh admitted that injuries were at a high last season and vowed to keep it from repeating.
“We have to turn over every stone. We have to look at every possible avenue to do the best we can to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Harbaugh said in January.
Hiring Dixon is a step in the right direction.
Dixon originally served as the Titans rehabilitation coordinator and assistant athletic trainer when he joined the team in 2016. He designed and managed the rehabilitation and treatment programs for injured players, also overseeing their progression back onto the field.
According to the Ravens press release, Dixon’s additional NFL experience includes serving as an assistant athletic trainer for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-15) and as an athletic training intern with the Houston Texans (2013), Buccaneers (2007) and Chicago Bears (2005).
In 2015, Dixon was named to the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society’s Research Committee. He was also a member of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society “Athletic Training Staff of the Year” while with the Texans in 2013.
Dixon earned a Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy from Florida A&M University in 2013. He also holds a Master of Science Degree with Emphasis in Sports Administration, plus two Bachelor of Science Degrees in Exercise Science and Athletic Training/Sports Medicine, from Florida State University.
Dixon is a dual-credentialed clinician in physical therapy and athletic training. Additionally, he is a certified strength and conditioning specialist.