INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) – Anytime an Indianapolis Colts player went down on the field in the past 33 years, Dr. Art Rettig was there to assess the injury.
“You treat the players just as you would your own patients,” said Rettig. “They're no different. There's a lot of talk about you're working for the team, but you're really working for the players, basically. If you don't do that, you're not doing it right."
The walls around the northside offices of Methodist Sports Medicine are covered with autographed photographs that tell the history of the Indianapolis Colts, Dr. Rettig's patients. The orthopedic surgeon estimates he has performed surgeries on more than 50 Colts players.
“Talking to him, he's the godfather,” said former Colts quarterback Jim Sorgi, sitting on an exam table in the Methodist Sports Medicine offices. “It's easy. You go to him. He's got that demeanor where even if it's bad news, the way he says it and things like that reassure you that it's going to be ok."
Dr. Rettig was the first physician to join the Colts when they moved to Indianapolis in 1984. Before this season, he stepped down as the Colts head team physician. Dr. Tom Klootwyk has replaced Dr. Rettig.
“Art would be unparalleled in his dedication to the job of being a team physician in the NFL,” says Dr. Klootwyk, a fellow Methodist Sports Medicine doctor. “Incredible dedication, but beyond that, I would say he has a phenomenal devotion to the player. Art has that gift of being able to, I don't want to say gently let someone down, but kind of soften the blow a little bit and be respectful of where they are in their career or the season.”
Dr. Rettig is a pioneer nationally in the field of sports medicine.
“His name in certain circles is Peyton Manning in football circles," said Sorgi.
At age 75, Dr. Rettig continues to treat athletes from all over Indiana in his practice. He also is continuing to work with the Colts as emeritus associate team physician.
“What he's done and how he's done it, I don't think you can replace that,” said Dr. Klootwyk. “So, it's a strange feeling not having him around all the time. Although he is around, because he is involved some. Probably his wealth of knowledge we'll use every week during the year.”
“I don't know if it's congratulations or condolences, but at least I'm turning the page here,” said Dr. Rettig. “That's good. (Colts owner) Jim Irsay and his family have been so generous with everybody and I sure owe them everything for the chance to do this job, which is sort of a dream job for anybody who likes sports medicine. Going out there on Sunday afternoon with the crowd is pretty spectacular."
Dr. Rettig still remembers his first game in 1984 and a pregame conversation with the New York Jets veteran team doctor.
“He said ‘Good luck boys!’ He said, ‘In my first game I had a player die,’ Fortunately that's not happened for us for 33 years. But that was kind of an awakening that ‘Oh man!’ this is something,” said Dr. Rettig.
In 33 seasons, he only missed four games. But he watched the season opener in Los Angeles from home.
“Well it was different,” said Dr. Rettig. “I'm kind of adjusting to it. I'll be ok."
Since 1984, he made sure the Colts were OK.
The Indianapolis Colts provided these statements on Dr. Rettig’s career with the team:
Colts Owner and CEO Jim Irsay: “Dr. Rettig has had an amazing 50-year career practicing sports medicine and orthopedic surgery. We are extremely grateful for his outstanding service, professionalism and friendship as our team physician for more than three decades. I am also pleased he is going to continue serving the team as Emeritus Associate Team Physician.”
Colts Head Athletic Trainer Dave Hammer: “Working with Dr. Rettig for so many years has provided generations of our medical staff and athletic trainers with graduate level training in sports medicine. He combines deep wisdom with unique kindness and understanding.”
Dr. Rettig issued this statement as he stepped down before the season:
As I am stepping down as Head Team Physician for the Indianapolis Colts, I would like to thank Jim Irsay and the Irsay family for their support and the opportunity to pursue a "dream job" for the past 33 years. It truly has been an honor and a privilege to work for a great franchise. Jim and his family have been most generous and I very much appreciate it. Their loyalty and integrity is reflected in the fact that many employees who came with them, from Baltimore, in 1984, still work for the Colts.
The medical care of an NFL franchise is a team effort and we have been blessed to have excellent physicians and athletic trainers over the last many years. It has been great to work with Dr. Don Shelbourne, Dr. Gary Misamore, Dr. Tom Klootwyk, Dr. Hank Feuer, Dr. Terry Horner, Dr. Doug Robertson (head medical physician), Dr. Pat Kersey, Dr. Thurmond Alvey, and Marcus McCrea. The Colts medical care will be in excellent hands as Dr. Klootwyk is taking over as Head Team Physician and Dr. Misamore will assume a larger role.
Athletic trainers do the bulk of the work caring for players and we've been fortunate to have had the top training staff in the NFL (in my opinion). Many thanks to former Head Athletic Trainer Hunter Smith, current Head Trainer Dave Hammer, Dave Walston, Erin Barill - now Director of Sports Medicine, Bryant Baugh, Kyle Davis, Kellen Norris, and numerous interns over the years. I can't say enough about how well our athletic trainers work with the players on a daily basis, both using their skill in treating injuries but also in creating an environment whereby the players want to be there.
It also has been great working with multiple head coaches and assistants from Frank Kush through Ted Marchibroda, Tony Dungy, Jim Caldwell to Chuck Pagano and General Managers Jim Irsay, Bill Tobin, Bill Polian, Ryan Grigson, and now Chris Ballard. It has also been a pleasure working with Pete Ward, Dan Emerson, and the rest of the front office staff.
Finally, I am looking forward to my new role as consultant to the Colts and to continue to pursue my private orthopedic practice at Methodist Sports Medicine Center.
Lastly, thanks to my family for allowing me to spend time covering the Colts for the last 33 years.
I will always be a fan - Go Colts!
Art Rettig
Dr. Rettig accolades (provided by Methodist Sports Medicine):
2003 – Jerry “Hawk” Rhea Award for Outstanding NFL team physician – This is awarded, annually, by the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society
2003 – Indiana State Medical Association Team Physician Award – Awarded annually by the Indiana Athletic Trainers Association
2010 – Indiana Coaches Football Hall of Fame
2013 – IUPUI Athletics Hall of Fame
2017 – North Central High School renamed their training room after Dr. Rettig. Dr. Rettig was the team physician for North Central for 25 years. Prior to that, he was the team physician for Decatur Central and Cathedral.
The NFL Physicians Society’s annual academic award is the Arthur C. Rettig, M.D. Award for Academic Excellence in Academic Research. It is awarded, annually, to recognize an NFL team physician for excellence in academic research and advancing the health and safety of players in the National Football League. The award being named for Dr. Rettig recognizes his long-term commitment to advancing research and education amongst the NFL team physicians. When the NFL Scouting Combine moved to Indianapolis, Dr. Rettig recognized this as an opportunity for all team physicians to gather for an academic conference. He has coordinated the annual academic sessions since then. In 2017, over 500 NFL team physicians, athletic trainers, as well as physicians and athletic trainers in training, attended at the annual NFL Physicians Society Medical session and annual Scientific session.
When the Colts moved from Baltimore, Dr. Thomas A. Brady, the father of sports medicine in Indiana, was instrumental in guiding Colts’ owner, Robert Irsay and the now Indianapolis Colts to Dr. K. Donald Shelbourne and the physicians at Methodist Sports Medicine to be their new medical staff. Dr. Shelbourne was the long-time head team physician prior to Dr. Rettig stepping into that role. When Dr. Rettig assumed the role as head team physician, Dr. Klootwyk, who had trained under Dr. Shelbourne and Dr. Rettig, assumed the role of assistant team orthopedic physician, along with orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Gary Misamore. Dr. Douglas Robertson, who also trained under Dr. Shelbourne and Dr. Rettig, is the Colts’ long time medical physician. Dr. Thurman Alvey is the newest member of the medical team, from Methodist Sports Medicine.