Texans Create Unique 'Performance Dept.’; Inside the Plan

With Houston Texans ‘return to performance’ lead Ciara Burgi profiled by NFL.com, we get a unique look inside the league’s only department of this kind.

Innovation is a big part of getting and staying ahead in the NFL and the Houston Texans are hoping it’s one-of-a-kind “Return to Performance Department” can give them an edge this season. 

“The ‘return to performance’ team works with players who miss time and are working to get back to the sport,” Texans’ ‘return to performance’ lead Ciara Burgi told NFL.com in a recent profile on her and her duties. “Whether that’s two weeks or an entire year." 

"That could be a player who has a hamstring injury and is out four to six weeks, a high ankle sprain and is out two weeks, an ACL tear and will miss the rest of the season, or a concussion and will miss time. Things of that nature.”

It’s a unique position, obviously, but not one that is coming without a truckload of education and experience. 

Burgi specializes in physical therapy and worked for three years in outpatient care before landing at Duke University, where she got her first opportunity to work with elite athletes.

“I worked in that setting for three years and was able to live out the purpose of my position (at Duke)," Burgi says. "The Texans then ended up reaching out to me about an open position, ‘performance assessment coordinator,’ that involved rehab and sports science.”

During this time of year, outsiders would hope Burgi and her staff wouldn’t have much work to do, but even during OTAs and minicamps, they have an important role to fill. 

“We are rehabbing athletes during that time,” she says. “General manager Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans want our athletes to get and be well, especially those who aren’t able to participate. During practice, I am taking the injured athletes through on-field workouts, lifts and other things that will help them get back on the field as quickly and safely as possible.”

Quick, yet safe, sounds like a recipe for success for the Texans. … And just one more way Houston is looking to revitalize it’s franchise with new energy to create a successful future.

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