UC student's NFL internship leads to $20,000 gift to reduce loan burden
Athletic training clinical rotation includes coveted spot at team’s training camp
Many University of Cincinnati students complete internships and co-ops — but few return with $20,000 from a professional football player.
Savannah Posey, a second-year athletic training graduate student in the College of Allied Health Sciences and a Cincinnati native, is currently completing a clinical rotation with the UC football team. This summer, she spent six weeks on the sidelines of the Buffalo Bills training camp through a competitive Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) internship.
Within the first 10 days of camp, while Posey was eating dinner, Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson invited her onto his Twitch livestream and asked how much student debt she carried. When she said $40,000, he donated half that amount on the spot through his Ceedy Cares Foundation.
“Now I send him receipts of me paying down the loan,” Posey said.
Savannah Posey, right, in the stands at the new Highmark Stadium. Photo/Provided by Savannah Posey.
The gesture was especially meaningful because the two barely knew each other. Posey had been assigned to Gardner-Johnson's position group, the defensive backs, but they had little interaction before the livestream. The $20,000 gift will significantly reduce her loan burden and underscores how experiential learning can open unexpected doors for students.
Read ESPN's coverage of Gardner-Johnson's livestreams and the donation.
As a training camp intern, Posey provided practice coverage that included hydration management, treating cuts and turf burns, and monitoring for more serious injuries. She also worked the sidelines during the first preseason game.
“It was their first game in the new Highmark Stadium,” Posey said. “That made it stressful but also fun.”
Training camp wasn't without its challenges. Posey accidentally broke her own elbow and wrist during the internship, but her Bills preceptors helped her get treatment and adjusted her duties accordingly.
“They were great about it,” she said.
As for the players, Posey said: “While they are the best at what they do, they were very humble and appreciative of everything we did. They were all really nice — just fun, regular people to be around.”
How did a UC athletic training student land an internship with the Buffalo Bills?
Inside the Buffalo Bills' locker room at the new Highmark Stadium. Photo/Provided by Savannah Posey.
Posey's path to Buffalo traces back to January 2023, when Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field in Cincinnati during a Monday Night Football game against the Bengals. Athletic training staff and medical personnel performed CPR and restored his heartbeat before he was rushed to UC Medical Center. At the time, Posey's father, Mike, served as UC Health's senior director of public safety.
Mike Posey stayed in touch with the Bills’ athletic training staff in the years that followed. When Savannah Posey set her sights on a PFATS internship, the trainers offered guidance on how she could land one with them — although she still had to interview as part of the selective process of earning a spot in Buffalo.
What is Savannah Posey's current role with UC's football team?
Savannah Posey, second from left, at Niagara Falls. Photo/Provided by Savannah Posey.
Posey is now completing her fall clinical rotation with the UC football team. She is assigned to the quarterbacks, providing daily healthcare services, helping manage the UC sports medicine facility and covering games and practices. She has also traveled with the team to away games.
“It's been really busy,” she said. “The guys on the team are great, and my preceptor has been great. All the athletic trainers and physical therapists at UC are super knowledgeable and make it a fun learning experience.”
In the spring, she will complete a clinical rotation in high school sports.
How does UC's athletic training program prepare students for careers in sports?
Savannah Posey, center, at the CN Tower in Toronto. Photo/Provided by Savannah Posey.
UC has a long history of athletic training education, and Posey said she chose to return home to Cincinnati specifically for UC's Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program. Through the years, it has developed many high-quality clinical affiliations, including the Cincinnati Bengals, FC Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Ballet and UC Athletics.
“I get to see new modalities, new diagnostic and treatment techniques that other colleges don't always offer,” she said. “I can develop my skills, build rapport with athletes, communicate with coaches and work with other health professionals.”
She also praised the faculty for guiding students on balancing school, work and life demands.
“They are always there and always willing to help,” said Posey.
UC's MSAT program meets eligibility requirements for the national Board of Certification (BOC) examination for athletic trainers and the state licensure exam required for professional practice.
“I am so grateful for both of these experiences — UC and the Bills,” Posey said. “No complaints.”
Posey said she wants to continue working with collegiate or professional sports teams following graduation.
Featured image at the top: Inside the new Highmark Stadium during the Buffalo Bills' first preseason game. Photo/Provided by Savannah Posey.
Frequently asked questions:
How did Savannah Posey get an internship with the Buffalo Bills?
Posey applied through the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) summer internship program, supported by her clinical experience and faculty recommendations from UC’s athletic training graduate program.
What did C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s Ceedy Cares Foundation do for her?
During Bills training camp, Gardner-Johnson surprised Posey with $20,000 toward her student loans, recognizing her work ethic and commitment to athletic training.
What kind of hands-on experience do UC athletic training students get?
Students complete clinical placements with UC athletics and other sites, working directly with teams to evaluate injuries, assist with rehab and support day-to-day sports medicine operations.
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