Female Athletic Trainers in the NFL
Seton Hill University Exercise Science
Other Information
There are currently only
21 females working as
athletic/medical trainers
working in the NFL. This
has grown since 2020
from 8 females to 21!
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Sue Hillman Ariko Iso Julie Frymyer
Sue Hillman was the first Ariko Iso was the first Julie Frymyer is the
female to work on an full time NFL athletic assistant athletic trainer
athletic training team in trainer. and physical therapist for
the NFL. the Kansas City Chiefs,
since 2018.
In 2002, she accepted a
In 1997, she signed with job with the Pittsburgh
the Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers. She received her
to become their head bachelor’s degree from
athletic trainer. Westchester University, a
Ariko was born in Tokyo,
master’s from Florida
Japan. She came to
International, and her
Sue holds a bachelors American to attend
DPT from the University
degree from Purdue college at Oregon State
of St. Augustine.
University and master’s University and San Jose
degree from both State University.
Stanford University and
Arizona. These degrees Now she is an associate
are in athletic training athletic trainer for all
and physical therapy. sports at the University
of Colorado.
After retiring, she moved
back to Arizona to teach
at Northern Arizona References
University – and also https://www.wtae.com/article/ariko-iso-steelers-t
rainer-nfl-history/40180979#
opened a bed & http://allsportstucson.com/2022/03/17/podcast-int
erview-with-legendary-arizona-head-athletics-trai
breakfast in Costa Rica! ner-sue-hillman-in-50th-anniversary-of-title-ix/
https://www.pfats.com/member-directory/kansas-
city-chiefs/julie-frymyer/