Updated

Barry Sanders and Randy Gradishar have joined the growing list of former NFL players who want to promote USA Football's safety program, Heads Up Football.

The program is designed to teach football coaches in youth leagues and at the high school level how to reduce the amount of head injuries in the game. Over the years, former players such as Sanders and Gradishar have played a role in spreading the message.

Of this year's 78 trainers, 17 played in the NFL. Another 127 ambassadors, such as Sanders and Gradishar, have NFL experience.

Trainers lead full-day instructional sessions. Ambassadors are asked to help strengthen awareness of the program while reinforcing the program's standards as they visit practices and games of participating teams and leagues across the country.