Commanders bring back Al Bellamy to fill head athletic trainer role

In need of a head athletic trainer, the Washington Commanders are bringing back a familiar face.

The Commanders on Monday hired ex-Redskins trainer Al Bellamy to fill the role that’s been in question since October, when the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating then-head trainer Ryan Vermillion.

Bellamy started his NFL career as an assistant trainer with the Redskins in 1988. He spent 13 seasons in Washington, including as a member of the 1991 Super Bowl team, and then 12 more in Detroit. 

“I’m thankful and humbled by the responsibility that Coach [Ron] Rivera and the organization have bestowed upon me,” Bellamy said in a team press release. “I’m going to hit the ground running and can’t wait to help contribute to what Coach Rivera is building here in Washington.”

For the last nine years, Bellamy has served as Temple’s director of athletic training. 

“I am excited to welcome Al Bellamy back to Washington,” Rivera said. “His experience and professionalism are both traits that we were looking for when making this hire. I’m looking forward to working with Al here in Washington and I know his knowledge and expertise will be invaluable for our players and coaches.”

While the team hired Bellamy, it didn’t provide an update on Vermillion’s status with the organization. 

In early October, Vermillion was placed on administrative leave after the DEA began investigating him over reportedly the alleged unauthorized distribution of prescription drugs. At the time, a team spokesman said the criminal investigation is “unrelated to the team” when announcing the trainer’s leave. He has not been charged with a crime. 

Vermillion was one of coach Rivera’s first hires when he started in Washington in 2020. He previously served as the Carolina Panthers’ head trainer for 18 years, half of which under Rivera. 

The midseason change left the organization in a strange position for the final three months of the year. Mark McCracken stepped in as Washington’s interim head trainer, but the team also brought in former Capitals trainer Greg Smith and former Redskins trainer Bubba Tyer to temporarily assist McCracken. 

The disturbance in the trainer’s room coincided with several injuries that hampered Washington’s season. While a season-ending knee injury to Chase Young was the most consequential injury, the most confounding ailments were those of wide receiver Curtis Samuel. The team’s top free-agent signing from last offseason barely played in 2021 as he dealt with nagging groin and hamstring injuries. 

The controversy surrounding Washington’s training staff is nothing new. Former All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams accused the team of mishandling a cancerous growth on his scalp in 2018. 

When Rivera hired Vermillion, he said it was to “redevelop trust in the training room.” 

“I couldn’t think of a better person than Ryan Vermillion,” Rivera said in February 2020. “I really truly couldn’t. I’m very fortunate. I’m going into my 34th year in the league and I’ve [been] around a lot of good trainers. He really makes me believe that he‘s one of the best ones because of the way he works.”

• Matthew Paras contributed to this story.