One of the few names that has been directly tied to the Baltimore Ravens’ shocking decision to call off their trade for Las Vegas Raiders DE Maxx Crosby happens to be the team head physician for an NFL team that had nothing to do with the deal: Dr. Dan Cooper, of the Dallas Cowboys.

So, who is he and why was he involved in Crosby’s medical evaluation that led to one of the wildest moments in recent NFL offseason history? Let’s dive in.

Who is Dr. Dan Cooper?

Cooper currently holds the title of “head team physician” with the Cowboys, but he does much more than that. He’s one of the most respected doctors in sports medicine, and he specializes in knee and shoulder injuries.

“Many teams and players rely on Dr. Cooper’s expertise,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on TV Tuesday night.

Recently, he performed surgery on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers.

Dr. Cooper’s impact doesn’t end in the NFL.

Dr. Cooper is also currently under contract with Real Madrid Futbol Club, holding the title of US consultant, per his own website. He also served as the Dallas Stars head physician from 1993-2011.

Award-winning doctor

According to his own website, Dr. Cooper has received plenty of awards and honors, including:

• 2013 Jerry “Hawk” Rhea Award – Outstanding team physician in the NFL
• Named as one of the Top 50 Knee Surgeons in America by Becker’s Healthcare Review
• 2016 Art Rettig Award for most outstanding paper presented at the NFL Physicians’ Society annual meeting
• Elected into the “Best Doctors Hall of Fame.”

Dr. Cooper plays a significant role in Cowboys’ draft process

The Cowboys have been known to capitalize on Dr. Cooper’s work with many of the top football players heading into the NFL Draft by using his insight to determine a player’s grade.

Jaylon Smith is the most famous example, as the Cowboys drafted him in the second round after he suffered a catastrophic knee injury during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl that raised significant questions about his long-term career.

Dallas was comfortable drafting him because they had insight coming from Dr. Cooper, who performed Smith’s surgery.

Other prospects who ended up in Dallas after going through surgery with Dr. Cooper include LB Damone Clark and most recently, CB Shavon Revel Jr.

Impact on Maxx Crosby trade fiasco

Dr. Cooper’s direct impact on the Ravens’ decision to back out of their agreed-to trade for Crosby is unclear.

But according to NFL insider Dianna Russini from The Athletic, Ravens’ doctors and multiple independent ones “were unified in the belief that Crosby’s short-term outlook was positive, but there were concerns about the long-term prognosis of Crosby’s knee.”