The Washington Football Team has placed head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion on administrative leave for what a spokesperson called an ongoing criminal investigation unrelated to the club.
Vermillion is in his second season with coach Ron Rivera in Washington after 18 seasons working for the Carolina Panthers.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department conducted a search at Washington’s practice facility on Friday, a source confirmed to ESPN. NBC Sports Washington was first to report on the search.
Vermillion did not travel with Washington this weekend to its game at Atlanta.
Washington coach Ron Rivera, who brought Vermillion with him from Carolina, declined to comment during his weekly news conference Monday. He referred to the team’s statement.
“I won’t comment on how I personally feel about what’s going on,” Rivera said.
Washington hired Vermillion shortly after Rivera in January 2020, with owner Dan Snyder calling him a perfect fit and “one of the most respected and seasoned head athletic trainers in the NFL.”
Vermillion also is Washington’s infectious control officer, managing the team’s health and safety protocols for COVID-19.
Before his time in Carolina, Vermillion spent one season as Washington’s director of rehabilitation. Before that, he spent nine seasons on Hall of Fame coach Don Shula’s staff with the Miami Dolphins: four as head trainer and five as rehabilitation director.
Vermillion graduated from the University of Miami in 1987.
ESPN’s John Keim and The Associated Press contributed to this report.