Now, as the Eagles prepare to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, in New Orleans, Feldman — and the entire city of Philadelphia — hope to relive that joyous moment.

“This is my third Super Bowl, and it never gets old,” Feldman said. “We know how hard it is to get to this point, so we’re thrilled to be back.” 

For the Eagles, it’s a chance at redemption. They fell to the Chiefs in the 2023 Super Bowl.

“You never want to be the team that loses the last game of the year,” Feldman recalled. “That game put us in a situation we never want to be in again, so the team feels even more empowered to work and play harder.” 

Game day prep: Behind the scenes

Feldman and Diaz are part of a nine-person team working overtime to ensure the Eagles are physically prepared for the biggest game of the year. The team will spend the week in New Orleans practicing before kickoff. 

“The stakes are higher for this game, and we want to win, but we want to do that every weekend,” Feldman said. “So, our preparation is the same. We deal with travel hurdles and practicing in a different city for a week, but at the end of the day, that game is decided by 60 minutes on the field, and we must put our players in the best position to succeed.” 

For ATs and PTs, game day presents its own challenges

“We ensure the sidelines are fully stocked for player health, safety, and performance,” Feldman explained. “Once the game starts, we’re there for whatever the players need — hydrations, help during timeouts or quarter changes, and any injury-related issues that arise during the game.

For Diaz, seeing running back Saquon Barkley play in his first Super Bowl is also a full-circle moment. Diaz first met the star running back during a summer internship with the New York Giants. 

“He’s always been the same humble guy even with the success he’s had — it’s amazing having him around,” Diaz said. 

Outside of player prep, both are looking forward to spending some time soaking in the sights and flavors of the Big Easy, hopefully with a championship celebration to cap off the week.

“I’m going back to Bourbon Street and eating more chargrilled oysters,” Diaz said. 

Feldman agreed.

“New Orleans is a great host city for the Super Bowl, and it should make for a fun week,” he said. 

From UD to the NFL: A legacy of success

Feldman and Diaz credit UD for helping them break into the highly competitive world of professional football.  

“Everything I learned in the classroom and at clinicals applies daily to player preparation and injury evaluation,” Diaz said, highlighting the impact of his upper extremity and spine evaluation course taught by Kinesiology and Applied Physiology Professor Thomas Kaminski. “Without UD’s athletic training program, I would not be in the position I am today. I owe so much to that program.”

Feldman also touted UD’s nationally top-ranked Department of Physical Therapy, which gave him a deeper understanding of rehabilitation progression. 

But, according to Feldman, Kaminski’s mentorship and dedication to students sets UD apart.

“When you look at the number of athletic trainers that Dr. Kaminski has helped place into the NFL, that’s a testament to the relationships he’s built, maintained and nourished throughout his time at UD,” he said.

There’s likely not a single NFL team a Blue Hen hasn’t touched at some point. Matt Nagy and Joey Bleymaier are on the Chiefs’ coaching staff, while Brett Veach is the team’s general manager. Nagy, Veach and Bleymaier played football at UD before transitioning into coaching and management. 

That Blue Hen legacy is something Kaminski takes pride in.

“As an athletic training educator for the past 40 years, I take great pride in ‘lighting their fire’ and seeing where that takes students in their professional and personal lives,” Kaminski said. “I’ve been very fortunate in my 22-plus-year career at UD to have worked with the profession’s best and brightest, and I am extremely proud of the Blue Hen legacy we have formed that continues in the National Football League today. Go Eagles!”  

For Diaz, being a part of the growing number of Blue Hens in the NFL is also a source of pride. 

“It’s great to see so many Delaware alums in the NFL; there’s so many of us we have our own hashtag — #HeNFL,” Diaz said.

Both Feldman and Diaz have worked tirelessly to earn their spots in the NFL.

“UD sets the bar really high — it’s a challenging program,” Feldman said. “But the one thing that can’t be understated is that you must work hard. Nothing is given, and a strong work ethic is essential to succeeding in this profession.”