The transition from NFL player to orthopedic specialist is not an unusual one. Several notable NFL players, including Chiefs offensive lineman Mark Adickes, MD, and Pittsburgh Steelers head surgeon James Bradley, MD, have begun musculoskeletal careers following their football careers.
Now, Denver Broncos guard Calvin Throckmorton could be following the same path, according to an April 2 report from The Denver Gazette.
Mr. Throckmorton, who signed a one year contract with the Broncos this year, was a pre-med major at Eugene-based University of Oregon, where he played football from 2015 to 2019.
He is entering his fifth season with the NFL but has wanted to be a physician since he was a kid and plans to pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon.
His contract with the Broncos totals an estimated $1.055 million with an additional $150,000 in incentives and $200,000 in possible incentives.
From 2020 to 2022, Mr. Throckmorton was signed with the New Orleans Saints.
"When I'm done with football, and I hope that's a long time from now, I plan on being an orthopedic surgeon if it all works out," he told the Gazette. "I started wanting to be a doctor when I was as young as 10 or 11 years old. I was always super interested in how things worked and the most important thing I wanted to know (how) it worked was the human body. I had these anatomy and physiology books when I was growing up, and so it's always been something I've been passionate about. It was a way I knew I could help people."