Chiropractic care is now a familiar part of professional sports, but its place in the NFL was built one relationship—and one athlete—at a time.
A new Forbes article by Dr. Sherry McAllister, President of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, looks back at how that journey began with San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig. When Craig joined the team in 1983, he wanted chiropractic care to remain part of the way he managed his body. His family chiropractor connected him with Dr. Nick Athens, a young chiropractor practicing near the 49ers’ training facility.
Craig's experience soon caught the attention of teammates, including NFL legends Jerry Rice and Joe Montana. Despite initial resistance from the team's medical establishment, players continued seeking chiropractic care independently. Then, during the 1990 Super Bowl pregame broadcast, millions of viewers saw Athens working with Montana—giving chiropractic an extraordinary moment of national exposure.
Over time, chiropractic became increasingly integrated into the multidisciplinary approach to caring for professional athletes. Athens himself later formally served as a 49ers team chiropractor from 2014–2016. As the article explains, the story isn't about chiropractic replacing other healthcare disciplines, but earning a place alongside physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists and other professionals working together to support athletes.
It’s a fascinating look at how trust, relationships and the experiences of individual athletes helped chiropractic earn its place in professional football.
Read the full Forbes article: “How Chiropractic Found Its Place In The NFL, One Athlete At A Time”