Indianapolis, IN (Feb 25, 2026) – The NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) and the Professional Football Athletic Trainers (PFATS) honored Dr. Pat McKenzie, from the Green Bay Packers, with the NFLPS/PFATS Presidents’ Award for his decades of dedicated service to both organizations and the NFL players at the Annual Scientific Meeting during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Dr. McKenzie joined the Green Bay Packers in 1990 following fellowships in arthroscopy and sports medicine under Dr. James Andrews. He began practicing in the Green Bay area while serving on the Packers’ medical staff and was named Head Team Physician in 1991, a role he held for more than three decades. He also served as NFLPS President from 2005 – 2006. Dr. McKenzie is retiring following the current season.
“Dr. McKenzie has set the standard for team physicians at the professional level,” said Dr. James Voos, NFLPS President and Head Team Physician for the Cleveland Browns. “We are grateful for his contributions to the specialty and loyalty to his team. Dr. McKenzie was one of the first physicians I met when entering the NFL, and he has been a valued mentor.”
“I have had the privilege of working with Dr. Patrick McKenzie since 1997. He guided me in this profession, teaching me not only how to care for players in the NFL, but how to approach every patient with the same dedication — treating each one as if they were an NFL MVP,” said Bryan “Flea” Engel, President of PFATS and Director of Sports Medicine / Head Athletic Trainer for the Green Bay Packers.
“His legacy is clear: he treats all his patients as if they were his own children. He is a champion of the profession of athletic training and truly part of the Packers family. It has been my distinct honor and privilege to work alongside him and to be able to call him a friend. Dr. McKenzie is a cornerstone, not only of the medical staff of the Green Bay Packers, but of the Packers franchise as a whole, and he is truly deserving of the President’s Award.”
The NFLPS and PFATS Presidents’ Award is given to an individual or group that has shown exemplary service and dedication in the medical field in service to the NFLPS and PFATS members and NFL players.
The winner of the last Presidents’ Award was Jim Ellis, MD the Medical Director for Emergency Preparedness for the NFL. A full list of previous winners can be found here.
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ABOUT THE NFLPS
Founded in 1966, the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) is dedicated to supporting team physicians and athletic trainers while ensuring the highest standard of medical and surgical care for NFL athletes. The Society promotes collaboration and communication to advance injury prevention, diagnosis, and treatment across the League. Through shared expertise and ongoing education, NFLPS members work collectively to improve medical protocols, enhance player safety, and support the health and performance of athletes on and off the field.
