Stronger Health and Leadership: Lessons from NFL Hall of Fame Athletic Trainer Mike Ryan

The Jon Gordon Podcast

Jon Gordon

Education, Health & Fitness

4.8 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 27 March 2026

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I sit down with Hall of Fame NFL athletic trainer and sports medicine expert Mike Ryan for an inspiring conversation that's filled with wisdom, stories from the NFL sidelines, and practical ways to stay healthy from his new book Foam Rolling made Easy.

Mike shares his unique journey—from his early days as an assistant with the New York Giants to becoming the youngest head athletic trainer in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and later transitioning to his current role with NBC's Sunday Night Football. Along the way, Mike opens up about the leadership lessons he learned under pressure, the importance of clear communication, and the power of honesty in building trust with both players and coaches.

We delve into the mindset shifts required when stepping into a leadership role, the art of mentoring others to their own success, and the lasting impact of fostering a culture where team members can grow and thrive. Mike's commitment to making sports medicine simple and accessible shines through as he discusses his mission to help people move pain-free and live more active, fulfilling lives. He unpacks strategies for injury prevention, reveals how foam rolling can unlock your body's potential, and explains why taking care of ourselves matters—not just for elite athletes, but for anyone who wants to stay "stronger for longer."

Whether you're a leader, an athlete, or simply someone looking to invest in your health, this episode is packed with actionable advice and encouragement. Mike's passion is contagious, and his message is clear: no matter your age or where you're starting from, positive change and lifelong wellness are within your reach.

About Mike,

Mike Ryan is a sports medicine specialist, physical therapist and former 26-year National Football League (NFL) Head Athletic Trainer/Physical Therapist. He proudly served as President of the PFATS Research & Education Foundation for 14 years.

Mike was recently inducted into the NFL Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2026.

He's focused his career post-NFL career on teaching individuals the art of restoring pain-free joint movement without medicine.

Mike's Personal Mission Statement is simple: To Enhance the Health of Others and Himself

Mike is the currently the sideline Sports Medicine Analyst for both Sunday Night Football and Thursday Night Football.

Mike's second book, Foam Rolling Made Easy, was released in January 2026.

His athletic and extreme-sport resumes continue to grow:

• Acrobatic plane Wing Walking

• Competing in 3 of the last 4 three DekaFit World Championships

• 6 Ironman triathlons in 5 countries

• Great white shark diving in South Africa

• Bungee jumping in New Zealand

• Two Running with the Bulls in Spain

• 2002 Duathlon World Championships

• Ironman Triathlon World Championships

Mr. Ryan attended Central Connecticut State University earning hisdegree in Athletic Training before earning hisPhysical Therapy degree from the University of Connecticut.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the John Gordon podcast, where we share John's interviews with guests, as well as key strategies and lessons from his keynotes, coaching, and more.
0:09.3	We want to encourage you to check out Johngordoncertified.com if you're interested in growing as a leader, coach, speaker, or trainer.
0:15.6	When you get certified, you'll be able to teach, coach, and train others on John's most impactful mindset, leadership,
0:21.1	and teamwork principles.
0:22.3	For more information, visit john Gordoncertified.com.
0:25.5	That's J-O-N-Gordoncertified.com.
0:28.5	Now let's jump into today's episode.
0:31.5	Hey, this is John Gordon with the John Gordon podcast.
0:35.2	And today, my guest is Mike Ryan. Mike, how you doing?
0:38.7	Doing great. John. How are you? Doing great. We are old friends and we've known each other a long
0:44.4	time. You were the head athletic trainer for the Jacksonville Jaguars. And before that,
0:50.1	the head athletic trainer for the New York Giants. Talk about your career.
0:54.1	Assist an athletic trainer with the Giants and then was the head guy when it came down here to
0:57.4	Jacksonville. Oh, got it. Okay. So you started out with the Giants and then had the opportunity
1:02.3	to make the leap. All right. So when you made that leap to the Jaguars from the Giants,
1:07.7	what changed in your mindset because you now were the leader of all the athletic
1:12.2	trainers where you were the assistant beforehand? How did you have to change your mindset as a leader?
1:16.7	I thought I had to take what I learned from a great who's still a mentor and a dear friend,
1:20.4	Ronnie Barnes, who's the head athletic trainer with the Jack, the New York Giants.
1:24.4	I basically, for six years, I worked under his toolage and I couldn't ask for a better
1:28.6	internship and assistant job to learn from. So I kind of learned what he did, how he did it,
1:34.6	but I had to put it in my own personality, because again, he's a mentor, he's been in it for a
	...

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