Washington Football Team trainer Ryan Vermillion put on leave amid investigation

Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The Washington Football Team placed head athletic trainer and director of sports medicine Ryan Vermillion on administrative leave Monday "due to an ongoing criminal investigation that is unrelated to the team."

Washington head coach Ron Rivera declined to reveal specifics of the investigation during his weekly news conference, referring to the team's brief statement.

"The only thing I can say about Ryan is, I know who Ryan is. Last year, I trusted Ryan with my health, and I would do it again," said Rivera, who was diagnosed with and treated for squamous cell carcinoma last year.

League sources told ESPN, NBC Sports Washington and the Washington Post that the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office searched the Football Team's headquarters in Ashburn, Va., on Friday.

WFT officials didn't know about the investigation until DEA agents showed up at the team's facility Friday, ESPN reported.

Officials also searched Vermillion's home in Loudoun County, according to the outlets. The subject of the investigation remains unclear.

Vermillion is in his second season with Rivera in Washington after spending 18 seasons working for the Carolina Panthers. Washington hired Vermillion shortly after bringing on Rivera in January 2020, with team owner Dan Snyder calling Vermillion a perfect fit and "one of the most respected and seasoned head athletic trainers in the NFL."

Before his time with the Panthers, Vermillion spent one year as Washington's director of rehabilitation. Before that, he was on Hall of Fame coach Don Shula's staff with the Miami Dolphins for nine seasons.

Vermillion graduated from the University of Miami in 1987.