Junior, Johnson, is one of first two females to work with Detroit Lions football athletic training staff
10/06/16
Brandi Johnson, native of Paulina, La., is a senior in her third clinical year of the LSU Athletic Training (AT) Program. She spent her summer interning for the Detroit Lions. It was her first NFL internship, and she was one of the first two females to every work with the Detroit Lions football athletic training staff.
“Out of the four summer interns, myself and another girl were the first two girls to ever get an athletic training summer internship with the team,” Johnson said. “That was really exciting finding out - even the players and coaches couldn't believe it. The entire team welcomed us into their tight-knit football family with open arms.”
Johnson shares how her experience in the LSU Athletic Training Program prepared her for this internship, saying, “There were modalities or just things in general that I knew how to operate because of what LSU taught me. How the Lion’s ran practice was pretty much how we did it at LSU football. The curriculum at LSU also prepared me for my internship. Working with a staff and other students on a daily basis also helped, because in athletic training you have to know how to work well with others.”
Each intern, six total, was assigned to a different position group each week.
“We worked closely with every single player on the team,” Johnson said. She did daily
treatments and rehabilitations, as well as all the field set up for practices and
games. Her favorite aspect of her summer internship was getting to learn from some
of the best certified athletic trainers in the NFL.
“Working with such great people and players really boosted my confidence going into my senior year orf college,” Johnson said. “Hearing each certified AT’s journey of how they got where they are today and learning from them really opened my eyes to my potential.”
Her dream job is to work at an Olympic training center, and eventually work at the Olympic Games. She has worked for LSU football, the University Laboratory School, and LSU beach volleyball.
LSU Athletic Training students work with the best of the best. Students complete clinical experiences in injury prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. LSU's Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training is a flagship program in Louisiana and graduates from the program establish successful careers in secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional sports programs, sports medicine clinics, physician clinics and more.
About SOK
The LSU School of Kinesiology advances the understanding of physical activity, sport, and health to optimize the quality of life for diverse populations through excellence in teaching, learning, discovery, and engagement.
Visit the School of Kinesiology at lsu.edu/kinesiology
About CHSE
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The College is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Leadership and Human Resource Development, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Library and Information Science, the School of Social Work, and the University Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree programs and 18 graduate programs, enrolling more than 1,900 undergraduate and 977 graduate students. The College is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is continually working to improve its programs.
Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education at chse.lsu.edu.