Uplifting The Team w/ Austin Moss

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The Story Of The First NFL Emotional Support Dog

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About The Episode

Austin Moss is the Director of Player Engagement for the San Francisco 49ers NFL team. His job is to help the players on several levels - from health and wellness to education to character development.

This season he’s had some help from a furry friend, his dog Zoë. She is the emotional support dog of the whole 49ers team, the first dog to officially assume that kind of role for a team in the NFL. Something’s clearly been working as the 49ers are having a terrific season.

Zoë is now a little over a year old – a French Bulldog around 26 pounds who has a great personality. Players come in throughout the day and spend time with her - sometimes briefly if they only have a minute, sometimes longer if they have a bigger break- and take a weight off their shoulders. It’s a way for them to escape, receive unconditional love and joy, and even become more vulnerable to talk about any issues that may be facing.

Having Zoë around has already made a significant impact on players, including Solomon Thomas – who had been going through a rough time in the past couple of years and was one of the biggest advocates of getting a dog in the team facilities, to begin with. Austin thinks an emotional support dog is something every NFL team could benefit from and make a difference in the mental health of players across the league.

Currently, Zoë is in the process of becoming an official registered therapy dog, too, where she could help spread her joy and love in children’s hospitals and other places as well.

About The Guest - Austin Moss

Austin Moss is the owner of Zoë, the first emotional support dog on an NFL team. Working for the San Francisco 49ers as their Director of Player Engagement, Austin’s job is to help the team’s players across the board. Zoë is a French bulldog who has become the team’s official emotional support dog and has helped Austin in his role. Players spend time with Zoë before and after games, between practices, and any windows of time they may have. She provides a valuable escape from the rough trials and tribulations of the football field and has allowed the players to not only feel joy from hanging out with her but also be more vulnerable and open about what they may be going through. Whether consciously or subconsciously, stopping by Austin’s office to see Zoë gives players a reason to come by more often and catch up about what’s on their mind. The team is having a great season thus far, and it’s undeniable that Zoë has at least a paw in those results.

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Jack SommerMental Health