Jared Gergen

Dr. Paul Eckstein and Son Dalton Join Forces to Support Retired NFL Players in Florida

September 23, 2025

This past April, the Orlando–Tampa region hosted a remarkable health screening event that brought together medicine, dentistry, and professional football in an extraordinary way. Over 50 retired NFL players gathered for a special NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and Professional Athletes Foundation (PAF) health screening, where they received vital care and evaluations from top medical professionals.

Among the leaders at this event were Dr. Paul Eckstein, a highly respected dentist in Seminole, Florida, and his son Dr. Dalton Eckstein, DMD, who together played a key role in helping retired athletes access much-needed treatment and education.

Dr. Paul Eckstein, Former NFL Star Dr. Archie Roberts, Dr. Dalton Eckstein

This family effort was made possible through Dr. Paul Eckstein’s long-standing commitment as a loyal member of the American Sleep & Breathing Academy (ASBA). His dedication to the organization and its mission positioned him to take part in this groundbreaking partnership between the ASBA, LHF, NFLPA, and PAF.

The April screening was led in partnership with Andre Collins, Executive Director of the Professional Athletes Foundation, whose leadership has long been central to improving the health and wellness of retired NFL players. Also supporting the event were David Gergen, Executive Director of the ASBA, and son, John Gergen, who contributes to the ASBA but primarily directs Pro Player Health & Wellness alongside David. Their combined leadership has been critical in bridging dental sleep medicine with professional athlete outreach.

Dr. Paul and Dr. Dalton have been expanding their knowledge in advanced dental sleep medicine. They have attended numerous study clubs and training programs, learning to treat patients with the innovative Cricket open-loop appliance, a therapy now being implemented to help former NFL players improve sleep and overall health. In addition, they are working with Dr. Francisco Eraso of Indianapolis, a highly respected Master Diplomate of ASBA, to provide players with access to the G-Force clear aligner system, ensuring athletes can receive comprehensive oral and airway care. Dr. Eraso is a respected radiologist and orthodontist and one of the founders of Beam Readers. He is currently teaching a high-level curriculum at ASBA with Dr. Tim Adams.

As father-and-son teams, David and John Gergen, Paul and Dalton Eckstein they provided an excellent event for the former NFL players. They provided screenings, consultations, and follow-up care to the former athletes at the Orlando event. Together, they represented ASBA’s mission to expand awareness and treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders nationwide.

For Dr. Paul Eckstein, this event was a recognition of his years of loyalty to ASBA and his passion for helping patients live longer, healthier lives. For Dalton, a rising leader in dentistry, it marked the beginning of his own journey serving both his local community and specialized groups like retired professional athletes.

The impact was clear: more than 50 former NFL players left the April Orlando screening better equipped to protect their health and their future. Thanks to the collaboration of the NFLPA, PAF, ASBA, Pro Player Health & Wellness, Andre Collins, and dedicated doctors like Paul and Dalton Eckstein, this event served as a shining example of how professional partnerships can deliver real change.

Due to the tremendous impact this event had, the news spread throughout the NFL Player community, resulting in former All-Pro receiver Ahmad Rashad reaching out to the Eckstein's for treatment. Ahmad told David that he is going to spread the awareness of this fantastic program. He expressed how happy he was that he went to the Eckstein's and that he appreciated the high-quality service that they provided. They educated him on sleep apnea as well as treating him.