As he entered his freshman year of high school standing at about 4-foot-11-inches and 80 pounds, Britt Brown realized his limitations as a football player. Or, rather, his dad realized this fact. Brown had a goal to be part of football, so when he realized that his size may be a deterrent for playing, he pivoted to what would become his future career: athletic training.
Through TCU and SMU, Brown learned about athletic training summer camps. There, he met head athletic trainer Ross Bailey of TCU and athletic trainer Cash Birdwell of SMU, which set him on the career path of athletic training. Now, he finds himself in his 25th year with the Dallas Cowboys where he serves as the Associate Athletic Trainer and Director of Rehabilitation. There was no athletic training major when Brown attended TCU, so he followed the normal steps at the time and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education in 1987 to begin his work in a high school.
However, during his time at Harris College, TCU had an agreement with the Dallas Cowboys for one student with an interest in athletic training to be a summer intern. Brown was chosen in 1986 as the third TCU student to work with the Cowboys. After impressing the organization with his knowledge and skills, he was invited to come back to the Cowboys in 1987 for the entire year.
He returned to TCU in 1988 to obtain a Master of Science in Physical Education with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology, which he earned in 1990. After his master’s degree, he worked at SMU for their basketball and football programs for three years before he was hired by the Miami Dolphins in 1992. In 1996, he returned to the Cowboys where he’s worked ever since.
During the regular season, Brown’s days start early at 5:30 a.m. with player treatments before their meetings. He then has treatment and rehab in the morning until practice. After practice, he performs post-practice treatments and rehab until afternoon team meetings. After the players’ team meetings, Brown has more treatments until he finally calls it a day around 7:30 p.m.
While some days are shorter than others, Brown doesn’t get a true off day until the Cowboys’ season ends. Then, in the offseason, he handles postseason surgeries from injuries that players acquired during the season. He continues to rehab with players like quarterback Dak Prescott, who broke his ankle but never stopped rehab after his injury.
Brown loves the fact that he doesn’t sit behind a desk all day long. “I pretty much spend four-five hours every day during the offseason with guys rehabbing,” he says. He describes how “the satisfaction of them being able to go back and do their job and throw a touchdown pass and play is all the gratification” he needs.
Brown advises people interested in the field of athletic training to realize that “there’s going to be some sacrificial things that you’re going to have to do and put up with to be successful.” It’s “not just a drive-thru deal where you automatically get everything you want.” For those who want to work in the NFL as he does, he says “the number one thing is working hard and understanding that you’re there to take care of the player.”
The field of athletic training is challenging, especially in the NFL, but Britt Brown’s grit and determination have led him to have a successful career with the Dallas Cowboys and continue to push him to be the best that he can be.