Following a 32-year career with the Steelers, head athletic trainer John Norwig will retire in June, according to a tweet from The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly.
While the loss of Norwig is tremendous, the team has already found his replacement. Former head athletic trainer Gabe Amponsah will replace Norwig for the 2023 season.
During his time with the Steelers, Norwig served as the leader of the training staff, which works primarily to prevent and rehab injuries, as well as build training regiments. Norwig worked personally with several Steelers’ greats, including Ben Roethlisberger.
Norwig was widely considered one of the best athletic trainers in the NFL, winning multiple awards for his work. This includes winning NFL Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2015. He was also voted into the PA Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame.
The Penn State alumni began his career in the NFL as an intern with the 49ers in 1984. After a seven-year stint as the head trainer at Vanderbilt, Norwig returned to the league as the Steelers’ head athletic trainer in 1991.
As one of the longest-serving members of the Steelers organization, Norwig was a part of many historic moments in Steelers history, including two Superbowl victories in 2006 and 2009.
Outside of his duties with the Steelers, Norwig was a prominent champion of player safety. He served on numerous NFL committees and was the president of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society.
Now, with Norwig’s retirement, the Steelers will turn to Amponsah to lead their training staff. The former Kentucky head trainer actually has Pittsburgh roots, as he graduated from Duquesne in 2006. Amponsah was also an intern for the Steelers in 2005-2006.
During his tenure with Kentucky, Amponsah rose through the ranks to eventually earn his graduate degree in Atheltic Training and become the Wildcat’s head trainer for football. Prior to his stint at Kentucky, Amponsah worked with Florida State in 2008. Amponsah is also a Maryland-native.