The Denver Broncos placed 29 players on injured reserve last season, the second-highest total in the NFL that only trailed the Tennessee Titans (33). When new head coach Sean Payton arrived earlier this offseason, he took action in an effort to reduce the team’s injuries going forward.
In addition to bringing in Dan Dalrymple as the club’s new strength and conditioning coach, Payton has also hired Beau Lowery as the team’s new vice president of player health and performance.
Lowery has 25 years of experience in sports medicine, most recently working at LSU from 2021-2022. Before that, Lowery worked under Payton with the New Orleans Saints from 2017-2021.
“The health and wellness of the players is a top priority for our organization,” Broncos president/CEO Greg Penner said in a statement when Lowery was hired last week. “Sean has made an important addition to the Broncos in Beau Lowery, who will create an elite sports performance program leading our athletic training, strength and conditioning, nutrition and sports science staffs.
“We will continue to invest in all aspects of player care and performance to ensure we are providing the best possible resources for our team both on and off the field.”
Lowery has received glowing reviews from players he worked with in the past, notably including former quarterback Drew Brees.
“Beau Lowery added years onto my career,” Brees said in a statement. “His vision, leadership, character and process for sports performance and physical therapy are second-to-none. There is no better person you will find in this role to equip the team for health, recovery and success.”
Here’s a quick sampling of additional current and former players who reacted to the Lowery hire on Twitter.