Washington Football Team head trainer Ryan Vermillion placed on leave amid federal criminal investigation
Federal law enforcement officers conducted a raid on the headquarters of the Washington Football Team last Friday while conducting an ongoing criminal investigation involving head trainer Ryan Vermillion.
The team issued a statement Monday afternoon that read “Ryan Vermillion has been placed on administrative leave due to an ongoing criminal investigation that is unrelated to the team.”
Washington Football Team broadcast partners NBC Sports Washington and 106.7 the Fan both first reported the news Monday.
Coach Ron Rivera declined to discuss the matter at his Monday afternoon news conference, opting to refer only to the team statement.
Vermillion was in his second season as Washington's trainer. He spent 18 seasons in the same role in Carolina, including nine under Rivera.
This latest incident marked another instance off-field turmoil to plague the franchise.
The team has long been embroiled in controversy over its former nickname, which owner Daniel Snyder decided to abandon last year upon the urging of corporate sponsors that agreed that the name was racially insensitive.
Also in 2020, Snyder and the organization came under scrutiny after more than 50 former female employees accused the owner and high-ranking officials of rampant incidents of sexual harassment and misconduct.
Upon the conclusion of the NFL's investigation into the franchise, Snyder voluntarily stepped away from day-to-day operations of the team, tabbing his wife Tanya Snyder to assume those duties.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Washington Football Team trainer Ryan Vermillion on leave amid probe