Changes are still under way for the New Orleans Saints staff. This time, a departure may cause a shakeup in the team’s sports performance department.
Per On3’s George Stoia III, Saints director of rehabilitation Jonathan Gress is headed to take on the head football trainer role for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Sources: OU is hiring Jonathan Gress as its head football trainer. Gress has been the director of rehabilitation for the New Orleans Saints since 2019.
In addition to Gress, Oklahoma also plans to hire a “return-to-play” trainer later this summer. https://t.co/SvXgLI2fcb
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) June 9, 2025
New Orleans has had its fair share of rehabilitation concerns in the past. Recently and most infamously being that of wide receiver Michael Thomas, whose recovery for multiple years did not go to plan for a variety of reasons. Even last season, wide receiver Bub Means saw a setback in his ankle injury recovery.
We’re these functions of Gress? Or just circumstantial risks that are simply assumed by the rehabilitation process? Those questions will always linger when it comes to NFL team medical staff conversations.
Whatever the case may be, the Saints now have a shot at bringing in a new mind and a new approach to the role. That is, if they choose to do so.
The Saints hired Ted Rath as their director of sports performance and head coach Kellen Moore is already giving glowing reviews.
There’s a chance that rehabilitation falls into his list of responsibilities, which could result in no addition to the director positions.
Otherwise, Rath could look to former colleagues. With the Rams, he worked alongside a phenomenal director of rehabilitation and assistant athletic trainer Byron Cunningham. Cunningham was just named the NFC Assistant Athletic Trainer of the year by the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society.
It’s unlikely that Cunningham would be up to leaving his perch with the Rams. But he and Rath may have another protege or colleague in mind.
Similarly, Rath worked closely with now-vice president of sports medicine Tom Hunkele with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2020 to 2023. There could be familiarity with a pool of options from there.
How the Saints choose to address this position will be interesting to watch. Perhaps they stay put and let Rath handle the rehabilitation portion of things, maybe they bring someone with whom Rath had familiarity or perhaps they go outside of the box entirely.
For instance, Dr. Sharif Tabbah has been around NFL circles for many years, using unique and interesting workouts to help players rehab from injuries. He has made waves before with his impressive workout regimens alongside Saints running back Alvin Kamara.
