NFL, NFL PA Monitoring COVID-19 Test Results

The National Football League and the NFL Players Association announced they will be monitoring test results for the week of August 21st through August 29th to determine the success of the league’s COVID-19 procedures.

Those considered to be Tier 1 and 2 personnel were tested daily during this period. Tier 3 classified individuals were tested weekly, which assumes once during that stretch of time.

Tier 1 consists of players, coaches, trainers, physicians and necessary personnel who must have direct access to the players. General managers, football operations employees, other assistant coaches, video personnel, security and other essential personnel who may need to be in close proximity to the players make up the Tier 2 designation. Finally, Tier 3 includes certain operational personnel, in-house media and broadcast personnel, field manager, transportation providers and individuals who perform essential facility, stadium or event services and do not require close contact with Tier 1 individuals.

To fully grasp just how many tests were administered from August 21st to the 29th, the NFL calculates 58,621 tests were administered to 8,739 players and team personnel. Only four new positive tests surfaced among players and only six new positives among other personnel.

These are numbers the NFL is obviously monitoring very closely with the season about two weeks away from kicking off.