(Indianapolis, IN — March 1, 2023) – Todd Toriscelli, Vice President of Sports Medicine for the Tennessee Titans was named “Outstanding NFL Athletic Trainer of the Year” and given the Fain-Cain Memorial Award by the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS). The awards ceremony is held annually at the NFLPS meeting during the NFL Scouting Combine week.
“The effectiveness of Todd’s caring, unassuming style is reflected in the legions of grateful players over the decades; but nowhere is this better codified than in the number of successful head athletic trainers across the NFL and other major sports who were mentored by Todd Toriscelli.,” said J.W. Thomas Byrd, M.D., team orthopedic surgeon and NFLPS member for the Tennessee Titans.
“Exemplary performance defines him; the last two years have been the best of his distinguished career. Despite the Titans having a record number of injuries and recording the highest number of players ever used in a regular season, he was able to return essentially all of our injured players to their pre-injury level of performance. This was accomplished through his hard work and dedication to our players, coming in early and staying late. Todd defines everything that is essential in a head trainer. He is a great communicator and has a gift for connecting with players. He is trusted by everyone in our organization as well as many in other clubs around the league,” said John Williams, M.D., head team physician and NFLPS voting member for the Tennessee Titans.
“During his long tenure in the league, Todd has cemented himself as a true professional who so many look up to. His innovative research and compassionate care has done so much to protect players in both Tampa Bay and Tennessee. I’m honored to name him as this year’s recipient of the coveted Fain Cain Award,” said Dr. Timothy McAdams, President of the NFLPS and Head Team Physician of the San Francisco 49ers.
Known as one of the top athletic trainers in the National Football League, Toriscelli was named as the Titans’ Vice President of Sports Medicine in 2022.
Toriscelli joined the Titans after 17 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The last four seasons he held the title of Director of Sports Medicine and Performance after 13 years as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Bucs. He also spent a combined seven years as a head trainer for Stanford, Miami (FL) and Kansas State. While with Stanford, Toriscelli also served as the National Athletic Trainers Association’s liaison to the NCAA Football Rules Committee.
The Fain-Cain Award is named for Dr. Thomas E. Cain, M.D., and Dr. Robert H. Fain, M.D., both long-time team physicians for the former Houston Oilers. The award was established shortly after Dr. Cain’s death and Dr. Fain’s retirement. The award is given annually to an NFL athletic trainer who best reflects the virtues of a certified athletic trainer and displays the highest level of professionalism.
The winner of the last Fain-Cain Award was Rick Burkholder of the Kansas City Chiefs. A full list of previous winners can be found here.
