Danielle Wrubel, MS, RD, a 2022 graduate of the UCCS nutrition program, has taken her passion for nutrition all the way to the NFL—now serving as a dietitian for the Denver Broncos.
“I grew up in more what we call food deserts as dietitians, and so healthy food wasn’t always accessible,” Danielle explained. These challenges shaped her interest in a nutrition career and influenced her early academic path.
While earning her undergraduate degree at UCCS, Danielle was focused on community nutrition and outreach. It wasn’t until her final semester that her direction shifted.
“I was very set on community nutrition and community outreach programs, because of things that I grew up with,” she said.
But sports nutrition stuck in her mind, ultimately motivating her to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Utah. There, she joined a coordinated program that blended coursework with hands-on experience.
“At Utah, I worked with their football team specifically. I worked with them for a full season and then a little bit with other sports teams.”
After graduation, Danielle went straight into the NFL, earning an internship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That opportunity eventually led to her current position with the Denver Broncos, which she began in April 2025.
When she joined the team, Danielle made it a priority to build relationships right away.
“The first thing I did was pull up the roster and memorize all of the players and their pictures so that when I came in, I already knew their names and faces,” she explained.
She looks for shared connections—whether through mutual acquaintances from the Buccaneers or Utah, or common ties to Michigan, where she grew up—as a way to build trust.
Danielle’s responsibilities with the Broncos vary by season, but the pace is always high. Her typical days begin early, often starting with preparing breakfast shakes and conducting body composition assessments, then continuing throughout the day with nutrition consultations, player check-ins, and recovery support.
“There are always guys floating around. They’re always coming up to us and asking questions about things,” she said.
She also plays an active role in pre- and post-practice performance fueling.
“There’s certain sport-specific supplements, products or routines that guys have, and it’s part of my responsibility to make sure that we have those things on hand and ready for them. During practice, I am on the field fueling. Then I’m making shakes for some guys who want them for post practice. Nutrition on and off the field is important for recovery.”
In addition to her work on the field and at the fueling stations, Danielle supports athletes during meals, helping them align their nutrition with personal goals.
“A lot of guys will come up to me and ask me to check their plate to make sure it is nutritionally sound for their goals.”
Danielle works closely with the Broncos’ training staff, sports science team and strength staff to ensure cohesive, individualized care for each athlete.
“Within my the team of three Dietitians, we are always making sure we’re updating each other and being on the same page to provide the best care to the athletes.”
As the regular season approaches, her responsibilities expand even further: planning travel nutrition, arranging meals on planes and in hotels, and ensuring athletes’ fueling needs are met across time zones and training schedules.
Outside of her daily work, Danielle believes in the importance of practicing what she preaches.
“If I’m recommending all these things to athletes and I’m not following them myself, why would they listen to me? So, I prioritize it just by having my routine as well and implementing that in season even though it is challenging. But I think it’s all about building those habits, making time for it and the rest falls into place.”
Danielle’s fueled by perseverance and adaptability. Her advice to students is to stay open to new opportunities and trust in the process.
“Stay the course and trust the process. You don’t know what is going to happen 10 years down the road, so be open to so many different opportunities. Start doing different things and find what you love to do.”
And for Danielle, that love is unmistakable.
“I love every aspect of my job. I’m really fortunate that I can confidently say that. And I just wouldn’t change anything.”