The Ravens hired coaches from all over the country to fill Jesse Minter’s new staff. But for a new vice presidency overseeing health and performance, the team looked even farther away.
Dr. Nic Gill, longtime performance coach for the New Zealand All Blacks national rugby team, will join the Ravens as VP of health and performance, the team announced on Monday. He will officially start his duties in Baltimore in April, per the All Blacks’ website.
Gill is literally world-renowned for his work as an athletic
performance coach. The All Blacks were one of the world’s most dominant rugby teams during Gill’s tenure, including Rugby Bowl World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015 and a silver medal in seven-a-side rugby at the 2020 Olympics. In his farewell to the All Blacks, Gill noted that their upcoming matchup against South Africa – which is taking place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore in September – would have been his 250th test match with the team.
Gill also has a PhD in Exercise Physiology from Southern Cross University in Australia and a teaching position at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. He is considered a leading expert in sports science and athletic performance with cutting-edge research and applications in the field.
This is quietly a big hire for Baltimore. The Ravens have worked to improve their athletic health and performance department since a poor showing in those areas on their first NFLPA report card in 2023:
On their 2026 report card, the Ravens received much better grades, including A’s for their weight room, strength coaches, and training room. They also received an A- in the nutritionist/dietician category, though food/dining area and training staff both sit at B’s.
Though John Harbaugh brought many staffers with him from New York to Baltimore, the Ravens’ strength and conditioning team is largely intact, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Gill will oversee that group, as well as the medical, nutrition, and sport science departments, the last of which is due for an upgrade, per Harbaugh.
Gill’s academic background in applied sports science research should help expand the Ravens’ efforts in that area. Sports science is increasingly being recognized as a vital part of the athletic performance of any successful football team. As in virtually every part of the sport, analytics offers a treasure trove of insights to optimize players’ health and recovery in a variety of ways.
The Ravens issued the following statement from Gill:
I’ve been incredibly fortunate in my career, and I don’t take a move like this lightly. The Ravens felt right, straight away – the people, the standards and the way they care about their players. I’m excited to get to work, build real relationships and help guys stay healthy, available and playing their best football. Coming from New Zealand to the NFL is a big move for my family and me, but it’s one we’re genuinely excited about. The Ravens have a strong reputation for doing things the right way, and I’m grateful for the chance to bring my knowledge and experience here, learn from everyone around me and contribute to something special in Baltimore.
Former All Blacks captain Sam Cane praised Gill’s “combination of experience, knowledge, care, commitment and work ethic.”
“Gilly knew when to push you and when to pull back and you always knew he had your best interests at heart,” Cane continued. “He wanted to help make you the best player you could be. Everyone had complete trust in him.”
General manager Eric DeCosta also released a statement on the hire:
