NBA Rumors: Hawks to Hire 49ers’ Ben Peterson as VP of Player Health and Performance

Julia StumbaughJune 21, 2024

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The Atlanta Hawks turned to the NFL for their latest hiring addition.

Ben Peterson, formerly head of player health and performance for the San Francisco 49ers, has been named the Hawks’ VP of Player Health and Performance, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported.

Tom Pelissero @TomPelisseroThe Atlanta Hawks are hiring #49ers head of player health & performance Ben Peterson as VP of Player Health and Performance, per sources.

Peterson was well-regarded in SF. He oversaw athletic training, functional performance, nutrition and strength & conditioning since 2019. pic.twitter.com/ef3SMIyfcG

Peterson spent four seasons with the 49ers, where he worked with players on “maximizing their availability,” according to the team website.

This isn’t the first time Peterson has moved between pro leagues. He previously spent over two years working as director of sports science with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Those past jobs have given Peterson experience with strength and conditioning, as well as nutrition and physical therapy, in both the NFL and NHL.

He holds a PhD in applied exercise physiology from the University of Minnesota, according to the 49ers website.

The player health professional has also worked with sports technology company Catapult and athlete development company P3.

The 49ers hired Peterson in 2019 after injuries limited San Francisco for two straight seasons.

The Hawks bring him into the fold in a similar position after missing out on the 2024 postseason in part due injuries. Atlanta ranked seventh in the league in games missed due to injury last season, per NBA.com’s Michael C. Wright.

The report of his hiring comes just under a week before the Hawks select the No. 1 pick of the 2024 NBA Draft.

Jonathan Wasserman predicted in his latest mock draft for Bleacher Report that the Hawks would use the top selection to draft French league standout Zaccharie Risacher.

Kentucky star Donovan Clingan and Australian big man Alex Sarr will also be considered by Atlanta at the top of the draft, Wasserman predicted.

Whichever prospect the team chooses, the Atlanta front office will hope Peterson’s experience can help the young star, as well as the rest of the Hawks core, stay healthy as the team looks to return to playoff contention in 2024-25.