Alexia Malone Oliver ’16 ’18DPT grew up watching the New England Patriots with her parents every Sunday.
“I knew I wanted to work for the NFL [National Football League], but I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” Malone Oliver says.
As a high school athlete, injuries led her to physical therapy, and she “fell in love” with the idea of pursuing it as a career. She came to Simmons for the Accelerated Program in Health and Exercise Science & Physical Therapy (3+3), which combines a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science with a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
While at Simmons, Malone Oliver was adamant that her future would be on an athletic field, not in a hospital. In retrospect, she appreciates Simmons for offering her training as a generalist. “I learned a lot from the hospital and clinic rotations as much as I hated them.” Her last rotation working with the athletic population was in Birmingham, Alabama. She followed up her studies at Simmons with a master’s in athletic training at Boston University in 2020, which provided her with the emergency training essential for tending to injuries on the field.
“Once I had that dual credential, I applied to jobs at all 32 teams. The Broncos were the first to reach out.” In 2020, Malone Oliver served as a seasonal intern with the Broncos for a year — the first woman they had hired for the position. Two years later, she was working with the Boston College football team when she got a callback from Denver for a full-time position. “I thought, heck yeah, I’m going to the NFL!”
Joining the Broncos as a full-time staff member in 2022, she was again the only woman. “I thought, why have you still not hired someone? You guys have to do better, we need more females on the staff. We’re in the 21st century.” Since then, the Denver Broncos have hired women as nutritionists, athletic trainers, and interns. “Now we have a bunch of women on staff and it’s been amazing!”
While her first year in the role was difficult, the atmosphere has improved. “[Coach] Sean Payton made things a lot better. I got better at communicating with the players and they became more respectful. Now that I’ve established myself, they enjoy having women on staff. I have that caring aspect that maybe my male co-workers do not. Especially dealing with players with new injuries or after surgery, they need that loving compassion. They appreciate that.”
Malone Oliver is on a team of nine physical therapists and athletic trainers. “We are at every single practice, every single game,” says Malone Oliver, currently at home for a brief rest before the season resumes with training camp in late July. Depending on the results of the season, she could be traveling with the team until February for the Super Bowl.
“Years ago, [the NFL] mandated at least one PT for every NFL team. Now everyone has at least two, and we are fortunate to have three.” They have an emergency action plan in the event of an injury. “As a PT/AT, I see all aspects of the injury: on the field, in the hospital, and after surgery.” Malone Oliver works with players to get them back on the field, as well as other physical goals.
“Simmons helped me learn about the post-op process, the healing and rehab phases, and the return to play. I feel like the athletic trainers [I work with] have the emergency care skills, but rehab is not their strong suit. Simmons helped me build those skills,” she says.
Malone Oliver’s time at Simmons was pivotal to her career development. “I can’t thank Simmons enough for teaching us to become strong, independent women.” She played field hockey and lacrosse at Simmons, and was Captain of the field hockey and lacrosse team, which also provided a growth experience. “All of that helped make me the person I am today. I’m more confident than I was prior to Simmons.”
As a lifelong football fan, Malone Oliver sees hope for the future of the sport, and its fans. “When Taylor Swift started dating Travis Kelce [of the Kansas City Chiefs], [my colleagues] would be upset that the [sportscasters] would pan to Taylor in the middle of a football game. I told them, that’s getting young women to watch football!” says Malone Oliver. “They call me a feminist. I get that from Simmons, and I’m proud of it!”
How do her parents, staunch Patriots fans, feel about her employment with the Broncos?
“They’re trying to convert their friends into Broncos fans,” she says. “They have a Broncos flag at their house, and they come to at least one game every year.”