As the Houston Texans seek to rebuild their football team under general manager Nick Caserio and coach Lovie Smith, there are some elements to the organization that are first class.
The NFL Physicians Society announced Thursday that Texans team doctor James E. Muntz, M.D. earned the Jerry “Hawk” Rhea Award, which given annually by the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society to the NFL team physician who has made the greatest contributions both to the league and to the athletic training profession.
The award was given during the NFLPS annual scientific meeting and symposium at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The award is named for Jerry Rhea, who was the head athletic trainer for the Atlanta Falcons from 1969-94 and was also an assistant to the president of the Falcons from 1994-2001.
Texans director of sports performance planning and medical administration Geoff Kaplan says that Muntz, “embodies everything that is important to be an award-winning team physician.”
“He is caring, loving, sympathetic, servant minded, accessible, funny and knowledgeable,” said Kaplan. “What separates Jim for other people is his ability to connect with his patients and make them feel as though they are his only patient. Jim has always been a mainstay in the athletic training room and over the last 30-plus years has been a tremendous friend and supporter for the Houston Texans Athletic Training staff and all athletic trainers across the country.”
Muntz, whose specialty is internal medicine and who has undergraduate degree from Indiana and attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, has over 30 years of experience working with athletes. In addition to his role with the Texans, Muntz is also a team physician for the Houston Astros and the Houston Rockets.
Muntz’s findings on venous thrombosis have been presented at more than 600 conferences and has been interviewed by sundry TV networks.
Los Angeles Rams vice president of sports medicine and performance and PFATS president Reggie Scoot says that he is “excited” to honor Dr. Muntz.
“I couldn’t be more excited to honor Dr. James Muntz with this award as he exemplifies everything this award is about,” Scott said.
Last year Carolina Panthers team doctor Robert A. Heyer won the award. A full list of winners is here.
