NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 39
Players’ Rights To Medical Care and Treatment

Section 19(b)(ii)
Behavioral Health Program

(b)(ii)

Approval: After each Club has identified the individual who it would like to serve as its Team Clinician, the NFL and NFLPA shall each designate one person to review and approve the nominee. Such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In considering whether to approve the nominee, the Parties shall consider whether the nominee possesses the requisite clinical skills for:

  • (A) effective player engagement;
  • (B) behavioral health treatment (within his/her areas of expertise);
  • (C) triage and referral for other community-based behavioral health providers and services;
  • (D) consulting effectively with the Club Medical Staff and the Club Director of Player Engagement;
  • (E) availability for and skill in engaging in modern electronic communication methods as used in professional football; and
  • (F) working effectively with a diverse, multicultural player and staff population, with an awareness and understanding of the culture of football at an elite level.
Once the Parties approve the candidate, such candidate may serve until such time as either the Club or the Team Clinician desire to terminate the relationship, the Team Clinician fails to meet the licensure requirements outlined in Section (b)(1) of this Agreement, or breaches applicable law or the confidentiality provisions outlined in Section (c) of this Agreement. In such an instance, the Club shall follow the same procedures in selecting, and obtaining approval for, a new Team Clinician.