INDIANAPOLIS — Dr. Christopher Larson, one of the Vikings team physicians, was announced during a Wednesday ceremony as the 2025 winner of the Jerry "Hawk" Rhea Award from the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS).
This award, which has been presented annually at the NFL Scouting Combine since 1998, recognizes "the NFL team physician who has made the greatest contributions to both the NFL and profession of athletic training."
The award is named for Jerry Rhea, who served as head athletic trainer for the Atlanta Falcons from 1969 until 1994. Following his role as head athletic trainer, Rhea worked as Assistant to the President of the Falcons from 1994 to 2001. In addition to his duties with the Falcons, Rhea has served as the President of the National Athletic Trainers Association and on multiple NATA committees.
"This is an incredible honor, and I am extremely humbled to join a list of physicians that I have looked up to and admired for years. However, I honestly see this as a nod to our entire Vikings organization, team physicians, athletic training staff, coaches, nutritional experts, and front office," Larson said. "We all work closely together in so many areas to keep these players healthy and at the top of their game. Without each other, it would not be possible to do this job and provide this level of care to our players.
"In addition, I have to credit and thank physicians and athletic training staffs from other teams around the league," Larson added. "We might represent different teams, but we frequently work together and share our individual expertise to help manage these elite athletes with potentially challenging injuries. I'm so proud to be part of the NFL and thankful for the award."
Larson attended high school in Mankato, the former home of Vikings Training Camp. He was interested in the medical field and loved sports, as well as drawing, painting and working with his hands. Orthopedic surgery provided the opportunity to practice "the art of medicine, work with athletes of all levels, and help these motivated individuals get back to an active lifestyle or athletic career that they love."
He graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1995. After completing an orthopedic residency at the University of North Carolina, he returned to Minnesota for a Sports Fellowship Program at the Minneapolis Sports Medicine Center in 2002, training with the Vikings.
He has practiced orthopedic sports medicine for 24 years. From 2007-11, he was a team physician before holding the same role with the Minnesota Wild from 2012-15. He returned to the Vikings in 2015 and just completed his 16th total season with the team.
"My goal is to help athletes stay healthy and get healthy when injured, but it starts by gaining their trust and being transparent regarding their injuries and expectations going forward," Larson said when asked about his approach. "It's important to develop a good relationship with everyone involved from the player to the athletic training staff, coaches, front office and the entire team.
"The entire team works together to do everything we can to help them get back on the field in a timely manner and safely — and safely is the key. Our goal is not to get them back on the field at all costs, it's to help them get back when we all feel good about the process and when they are ready mentally and physically," Larson continued. "It is so rewarding to see these players return to action and many of them become like family to me. I keep in touch with them and hear from many of these players and their families even when they move on to other teams or from sports altogether. I'm always proud to have played a small part in their continued success."
Larson is the third Vikings physician to garner the award, joining Dr. David Fischer in 2005 and Dr. Sheldon Burns in 2019.
Vikings Vice President of Player Health and Performance Tyler Williams said Larson is highly deserving of the recognition.
"We are thrilled for Dr. Larson winning the Jerry 'Hawk' Rhea Physician of the Year Award," Williams said. "Along with being a phenomenal doctor and surgeon, he is an incredible human being with a relentless care for people.
"Dr. Larson has been a pivotal leader in the history of Minnesota sports medicine, working with multiple professional sports teams," Williams continued. "In addition to his work in the NFL and with the Minnesota Vikings, he pioneered surgical techniques that have enhanced how athletes are treated, has published more than 130 peer-reviewed articles and is sought out globally for his expertise, including consulting for the NBA and NHL Players Associations.
"His extensive experience and his relentless care for our players fosters the trust to communicate the best strategy to solve complex problems in sports medicine," Williams added.
Consistently voted a Top Doctor by Mpls. St. Paul Magazine (18 times), and Minnesota Monthly, Larson has been recognized as a Top Orthopedic Surgeon by U.S. News & World Report. He practices at Twin Cities Orthopedics clinics in Edina and Eagan.
Previous winners of the Jerry "Hawk" Rhea Award
2024: Dr. Leigh Ann Curl, Baltimore
2023: Dr. Scott Rodeo, New York Giants
2022: Dr. Andrew Tucker, Baltimore
2021: Dr. James Muntz, Houston
2020: Dr. Robert Heyer, Carolina
2019: Dr. Sheldon Burns, Minnesota
2018: Dr. Walter Lowe, Houston
2017: Dr. James Andrews, Washington
2016: Dr. Robert Anderson, Carolina
2015: Dr. Elliott Hershman, New York Jets
2014: Dr. James Bradley, Pittsburgh
2013: Dr. Dan Cooper, Dallas
2012: Dr. Ted Schlegel, Denver
2011: Dr. Patrick McKenzie, Green Bay
2010: Dr. Robert Heidt, Cincinnati
2009: Dr. Anthony Yates, Pittsburgh
2008: Dr. Michael Dillingham, San Francisco
2007: Dr. Walter Timperman, Cincinnati | Dr. Allan M. Levy, New York Giants
2006: Dr. Timothy Finney, New Orleans
2005: Dr. David Fischer, Minnesota
2004: Dr. Russell Warren, New York Giants
2003: Dr. Art Retig, Indianapolis
2002: Dr. Burton Zarins, New England
2001: Dr. Charles Harrison, Atlanta
2000: Dr. Charles Brown, New Orleans
1999: Dr. John Bergfeld, Cleveland
1998: Dr. Don Knowlan, Washington
