Per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, the Saints have hired former Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams staffer Ted Rath as their next director of sports science.
Rath operated as the Eagles’ director of sports performance between 2020 and 2023. Before that, he held two roles as strength and conditioning coach in 2017 and director of strength training and performance in 2018 and 2019 with the Rams.
He became a sensation in 2019 when he became known as Rams head coach Sean McVay’s “get back guy,” which was highlighted for an NFL Films special after being seen literally holding McVay back on the sidelines during a Rams and Seattle Seahawks bout.
Rath contributed to the Rams’ Super Bowl win in 2018 by helping the roster keep healthy and remain available while being recognized as one of the NFL’s healthiest teams for a third-consecutive season.
He eventually joined the Philadelphia Eagles staff in 2020 after an abrupt exit from Los Angeles. During the Eagles’ 2022 Super Bowl runner-up season, the team was also celebrated for the consistent availability of its roster and health.
New Orleans has been steadily confronting a years-long health battle with 2024 being one of the toughest to navigate. When we broke down the numbers around the team’s injuries last season, it became apparent that a new direction was needed. Perhaps Rath will provide just that in his return to the NFL after being away from the league in 2024.
