Archie Wills-Johnson, a student at the University of Bristol, had part of the cartilage in his neck removed and replaced with titanium after sustaining a serious injury in December 2022.
He started playing American football when he was a biology student in 2021 and played as a linebacker for his then team, the Bristol Barracudas, in a game against Southampton.
During the match, Wills-Johnson felt a “huge electric shock” in his right arm, which turned out to be a herniated disc.
The student, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, previously played contact sports for up to 20 hours a week, but was recovering from surgery and suffering from chronic pain.
He worked as a physiotherapist in the NHS and in support services at the University of Bristol, and has now returned to the Bristol Barracudas as a coach.
“I still have symptoms and doctors aren't sure if I'll ever fully recover,” Wills-Johnson said.
“We don't really know what caused it yet. I had mild nerve pain in my shoulder before I felt the electric shock, so perhaps it was wear and tear followed by a sudden shock, but it's hard to pinpoint.”
His role at the club now includes providing technical support to members of the 60-strong team, as well as video analysis and behind-the-scenes management.
Mr Wills-Johnson was elected Vice-Chancellor of Bristol Barracuda University and recently received an award from the University of Bristol for his resilience.
Celeste Waller-Kerr, awards manager at Bristol Plus Awards, said: “We are truly inspired by Archie and his determination to continue to give back to the club he loves.”
