Buffalo Bills Athletic Training, Equipment Staffs Earn Special Honors

Two key parts of the Buffalo Bills organization received their due recognition at the NFL annual meeting.

Jan 8, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; The Buffalo Bills training staff is recognized prior to / Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Players are always the focus in the NFL, but there are so many other people who make the magic happen. In that regard, the Buffalo Bills have some of the best in the league.

At the NFL's annual meeting this week, the Bills' athletic training staff and equipment staff both earned special honors. The former earned the Ed Block Athletic Training Staff of the Year award, while the latter earned the New Era AFC Equipment Staff of the Year for their exemplary work during the 2023 season.

"For us being honored and voted on by our peers, the other 31 athletic training staffs in the NFL. It's a huge, huge honor. It's probably one of the biggest honors that we can receive," Bills head athletic trainer Nate Breske told the team's official site.

Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Damar Hamlin / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Bills' athletic training staff has been in the spotlight quite frequently over the past year and change after helping save Damar Hamlin's life in January of 2023. Members of the staff were honored at last year's ESPYs, and continue to show the importance of having qualified professionals on standby.

"A huge compliment to athletic trainers at large," Breske said. "Everything from youth sports to high school and collegiate up to professionals. Just what an importance athletic training professionals can have an impact on when you need it."

Meanwhile, the Bills' equipment staff became just the second in the league to win the award twice, joining the Green Bay Packers. In terms of making sure the team had the proper equipment each week, the Bills' staff stood head and shoulders above the rest of the NFL.

"It's a great honor," said director of equipment operations Jeff Mazurek. "We all work together, everyone's on top of their roles and we're ready for whatever is thrown at us."