NFL Covid Protocol: Are Covid-19 Vaccines Mandatory For NFL Players? Will Players Be Punished For Not Taking The Vaccine?
NFL Covid Protocol: As the Covid-19 vaccine has come into distribution in the US, questions about the NFL’s policy towards the Covid-19 vaccine arise.
Players are still on the fence regarding taking the vaccine. Many NFL players have declined to make any comments about whether they’ve been vaccinated or not. The Bills for example have had several players shun questions about the vaccine.
The issue is a sensitive one, but the NFL is looking to implement a policy regarding vaccinations. They have already implemented a Tier 1/Tier 2 rating system to determine how much accessibility a staff member will have to certain aspects of their team facilities. The NFL could very well detail a policy for players as well.
NFL Covid Protocol: Are Covid-19 Vaccines Mandatory For NFL Players? Will Players Be Punished For Not Taking The Vaccine?
The short answer is no. Vaccines are not mandatory for any NFL player. However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t some kind of repercussion for not taking the vaccine. Staff members who are awarded a Tier 1 or Tier 2 status are required to take the vaccine or face restrictions in terms of what facilities they can access.
Tom Pelissero breaks down it in full detail here:
Here’s a breakdown from last week’s memo of the new restrictions that go into effect Monday. The league has made clear it does not expect to roll back these restrictions at any point during the 2021 season, even for those granted an exemption. pic.twitter.com/VArIvbn3zC
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 4, 2021
Essentially, any coaches who refuse to get the vaccine without a medical or religious exemption, face the prospect of conducting virtual sessions with their team throughout the summer. Players on the other hand have a different story:
Vaccination rates among NFL players remain low compared to staff league-wide, but it’s not mandatory for players, only Tier 1/2 staff. So an unvaccinated player can interact with a vaccinated coach but not vice versa. The NFL and NFLPA continue to negotiate protocols.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 4, 2021
So, as of right now, it is not mandatory for players to be vaccinated, and they will not face any sort of punishment for not taking the vaccine. Bills GM Brandon Beane did imply he might cut players who don’t get the vaccine, but that was met with harsh backlash from the NFLPA, and it doesn’t look like it’ll come into effect anytime soon
Thus, an unvaccinated player can interact freely with everyone whereas an unvaccinated staff member cannot. Coaches and assistant coaches do face punishments, as detailed above, and should look to get the vaccine ASAP.
Assistant coaches from at least four NFL teams are refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine and are set to lose Tier 1 status — banning them from the field, meeting rooms and direct interactions with players — if they don’t get a first shot by the end of next week, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 4, 2021
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