Giants’ Longtime Trainer Steps Down
Ronnie Barnes began his journey as the head athletic trainer for the Giants during the early days of President Ronald Reagan’s administration. His tenure concluded at the close of the Brian Daboll era.
At 73, Barnes will transition into a supervising role as the senior vice president of medical services. While he won’t continue as head trainer, he will still lead the department, sources confirmed.
With the arrival of new head coach John Harbaugh, there’s an expectation that a trainer with connections to the Ravens will be recruited to fill the head trainer position.
In recent years, Lee Weiss, the Director of Rehabilitation, has taken on a more significant role in managing on-field injuries.
Over the years, countless players have relied on Barnes for medical care and injury management, despite research indicating that the Giants have lost more games due to injuries compared to many other teams in the last decade.
Remarkably, Barnes not only has the longest tenure as a non-family member within the Giants but is also one of the longest-serving staff members across the NFL.
He expertly led the compliance efforts for the Giants during the challenging 2020 and 2021 seasons, which were heavily impacted by the pandemic.
This shift seems to fit the narrative of broader changes that Harbaugh is implementing within the team’s veteran ranks.
Long-standing executive Kevin Abrams, known for his expertise in salary cap management and regarded as a potential future general manager, was let go recently after 26 years with the organization.
Feeling ready for a change, Barnes had been considering a shift to a supervisory role for some time. He first joined the Giants in 1976, becoming the head athletic trainer in 1981.
Throughout his career, he has served as head trainer under 12 of the 23 head coaches in Giants history—including interim coaches—and has worked with five general managers.
Barnes is not just a figure within the Giants; he is recognized in the NFL community, being a member of the Giants’ Ring of Honor, the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame, and a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which advocates for diversity within the league.
