“It allowed me to get my foot in the door. It was a gateway to the NFL, and I think that was a testament to the relationships that Dr. [Tom] Kaminski has with those teams and those athletic trainers, ensuring UD students have the best opportunities,” Hernandez said. “Not many other schools have those relationships.”

That well-established pipeline is still growing strong. UD currently has more than a dozen athletic training and physical therapy graduates working in the NFL through connections cultivated by Thomas Kaminski, professor of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology and director of UD’s ATEP.

“Our students, when they go to these NFL camps—this is not glorious work; they have to work hard—they’ve always had such a good work ethic, and Jon certainly was part of that group,” said Kaminski. “I think the rest of the NFL realizes that our students were just the type of student they were looking for. Even with NFL teams where I don’t have a strong connection, a former student, they’re still taking our students as well. Our name is very strong in the NFL, and I’m proud of that fact.”

Kaminski credits his strong bond with alums, a list spanning more than 625 people, that continues to create new opportunities for current students.

“I’ve always taken pride in cultivating relationships and that doesn’t happen overnight,” said Kaminski. “These are long-lasting relationships all for the sake of University of Delaware athletic training. Jon and others are part of that very strong alumni network, and even though they are at the highest level of sports, they’re all very humble, and they know what it means to be part of the legacy of UD athletic training.”

Hernandez encourages UD students, who want to work in professional sports, to step outside their comfort zone and take risks.

“Talk to people who’ve done it and get to know what their experiences are,” he recommended. “Find mentors that want to do or are doing what you do…get exposed to the training or get exposed to working with a pro-athlete or a pro-team. That’s easier said than done. Put yourself out there and message clinic directors and athletic trainers.”

Hernandez said Kaminski serves as an advocate for students and challenges alumni to do their part.

“Using his guidance and his knowledge over the years to help, professionally and educationally, while I was at UD was super helpful, and I think for him to open up those doors for us in the NFL was huge as well,” Hernandez said. “Maintaining that connection and that relationship with him, being out of school, he does such a great job in making sure we continue to develop that pipeline.”

As part of a full-time athletic training staff of six, Hernandez has been working these past two weeks to try to maintain a sense of normalcy heading into the big game to get the best out of the players.

“Obviously, it’s a big game, but you don’t want that to affect your preparation in regard to a normal week,” he said. “Trying to have some sort of normalcy is great for the players. Once they get out of rhythm, that’s where you start to get nervous, start to get anxious.”

Hernandez said preparation this time differs from 2019, where they had to travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to compete in Super Bowl LIII. In that game, the Rams lost to the Patriots, 13-3 in the lowest-scoring Super Bowl in history.

“We’re in a unique situation, where we’re home, so we don’t have to spend a whole week in a different city. We can sleep in our own beds, practice in our own fields, so I think that’s a little bit of an advantage,” he said. “I think it’s just trying to minimize distractions this time around. It’s nice we’re here, but we have some unfinished business from that last time, so we’re trying to come out of this one with a W this time.”

During the Super Bowl—and any game—Hernandez steps in to respond to emergency situations. His goal is to minimize chaos in times of injury by relying on procedure.

“Usually when someone gets hurt, I’ll go inside with them, and if they require further evaluation, I’m there with our team doctors, or if they need to be taped and braced to try to go back out to play—that’s one of my roles on game day,” he said. “I also help with player transportation. If a player can’t get off the field with their own power, that’s something I’ll help with.”

He also stresses constant hydration for players throughout the game, especially during time-out or while they’re on the bench.

“Making sure our guys are warm, making sure guys need some treatment when they are on the bench—keeping their knees warm to make sure they’re right for the next series, identifying someone who’s cramping and making sure that they get the fluids and rehydration they need.”

By maintaining a sense of normalcy and keeping players healthy, Hernandez is hoping the Rams’ journey comes full circle Sunday night at Super Bowl 56.

“The whole story of the season is still being written. We still have one more thing to do. But I think up until this point, it’s been a really cool story and a really great journey for us. We’ve tackled some adversity, so I think on Sunday, hopefully it comes full circle, and we can win this thing, keep it home.”

But now, even at the pinnacle of his career, as he heads into the biggest game of his life for the second time, Hernandez hasn’t forgotten where it all began. He and other alums have an ongoing group text with Kaminski, whom they call “Dr. K.”

“He challenges us to take students under our wing and develop them. Our expectations and standards are really high, and he knows that. When he does send students our way, we set the bar at a certain level,” said Hernandez. “I’m a little extra hard on UD students--just knowing where they came from and knowing Dr. K--but I think that’s a testament to him continuing to develop that pipeline and developing his students to make sure that they’re the best they can be once they graduate.”