JOHNSTOWN —
Chris Peduzzi has tended to the needs of the Philadelphia Eagles players for 14 seasons as part of the NFL team’s athletic training staff.
The Greater Johnstown High School graduate has made one Super Bowl appearance, been part of five NFC Championship games and had four visits to Hawaii with the NFC squad’s Pro Bowl training staff.
The Eagles staff was honored as the Professional Football Athletic Training Staff of the Year in 2010.
Peduzzi’s lengthy and distinguished resume helped him advance to the role of the Eagles’ head athletic trainer under new Philadelphia head coach Chip Kelly.
The promotion had been in the works since former Eagles head trainer Rick Burkholder followed ex-Eagles head coach Andy Reid to the Kansas City Chiefs. It became official on Friday.
“I’m very appreciative of Mr. Lurie (owner Jeffrey Lurie), Howie Roseman (GM), Don Smolenski (president) and coach Kelly,” Peduzzi said during a Monday telephone interview. “Mr. Lurie and the others (Roseman and Smolenski) have been here for years, and for them to have confidence in my ability is quite humbling.”
Peduzzi, 41, made a reputation as a blue-collar, overachiever player for former coach Jerry Davitch at Greater Johnstown. He walked on at Division I Virginia Tech, where he went from an unknown linebacker/special teams player to a three-year letterman who was on two bowl teams.
Peduzzi became West Chester University’s head football athletic trainer after college and eventually joined the Eagles in 1999 through his connections to Burkholder.
He got his first taste of the NFL as an intern with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1996-98 and also had spent time with the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe in 1997.
Burkholder was on the Steelers training staff during Peduzzi’s years as an intern and brought him to Philadelphia when he took on the head trainer job with the Eagles in 1999.
“Rick afforded me a lot of opportunities that most assistant trainers don’t have,” Peduzzi said. “He was preparing me.”
During his tenure with the Eagles, Peduzzi formed solid friendships with the likes of Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and Troy Vincent (now the NFL’s VP of player engagement), among others.
Peduzzi had to contend with the much-publicized Terrell Owens injury saga in the weeks and days leading up to Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville. The Eagles got Owens and his battered ankle back for the big game but still fell 24-21 to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
“This is a humbling experience,” Peduzzi said. “The Eagles have been great in the change-over with Rick Burkholder leaving. I’ll definitely have more of an administrative role. There definitely will be more paperwork and dealing with league rules.”
Pro
Related Photos
-
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 20: Chris Peduzzi of the Philadelphia Eagles during the game against the Indianapolis Colts on August 20, 2009 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Drew Hallowell) *** Local Caption ***
Discussion
Johnstown High grad Peduzzi becomes Eagles’ head trainer
- Pro
-
-
Crosby hat trick gives Pens 2-0 series lead
The Ottawa Senators have plenty of respect for Sidney Crosby.
-
Richland’s Urban makes connection with Orioles
Last week, Austin Urban used his contacts to arrange his own personal showcase in front of Major League Baseball scouts at Point Stadium.
-
Astros drop the ball in Pittsburgh
Jimmy Paredes dropped Russell Martin's bases-loaded fly ball when he collided with second baseman Jake Elmore with two outs in the ninth inning, the second missed catch by a Houston right fielder, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied past the Astros 5-4 Friday night.
- Local sports in brief 5/17/2013
-
Penguins proving potent with extra skater
Even as numbers on a roster, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ power play appears intimidating.
-
Bucs brew third-straight win
The ball left Travis Snider’s bat and he took off with his head down. The Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder had imagined driving the ball into the Allegheny River since he joined the team last summer.
-
Pirates roll past Brewers
Wandy Rodriguez allowed one run over seven strong innings and Neil Walker hit a two-run single as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 on Wednesday night.
Rodriguez (4-2) gave up six hits, walking one and striking out five. -
Dupuis coming through for Penguins
Dan Bylsma has been hearing it seemingly from the moment he took over at Pittsburgh Penguins head coach four years ago.
Every time the Penguins hit a rough patch, the murmurs about finding a polished winger to play alongside superstar Sidney Crosby pop up. Bylsma understands the sentiment. It’s just that it’s a little misplaced. -
Penguins rout Senators in series opener
The Ottawa Senators know there is little margin for error if they want to upset the Pittsburgh Penguins.
-
McCutchen home run lifts Pirates
Andrew McCutchen homered leading off the bottom of the 12th inning to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.
- More Pro Headlines
-
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Raw: School Bus Crash Injures Five Children
Quick Response Saved Baby on Phila. Train Tracks
One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh
