NFL, NFLPA Agree to Updated COVID-19 Protocols for 2021 Season

The NFL and NFLPA have agreed to updated COVID-19 mitigation protocols for the upcoming 2021 season.

In a letter to players Monday night, the NFLPA outlined the new protocols, which includes weekly testing for fully vaccinated players and staff members.

The NFLPA sent a letter to players tonight, saying move to weekly (not daily) COVID testing of fully vaccinated individuals “does not sufficiently solve for the real risk of virus transmission going undetected inside a Club facility.” Union didn’t oppose but will keep negotiating

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 31, 2021

Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals will still be tested daily in order to be granted access to club facilities.

The high-risk close contact protocol remain unchanged. Only unvaccinated players are at risk of missing games in such a scenario.

As for new protocols, fully vaccinated medical, equipment and strength and conditioning staff members will be required to wear masks while interacting with players indoors.

Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated players will not have to wear masks outdoors during practices or walkthroughs, but will still be required to wear face coverings inside.

Lastly, a maximum of 75 non-player staff members will be permitted in traveling parties. All individuals, including those that are fully vaccinated, will have to wear masks.

Here’s more from the NFLPA letter to players, adding the union didn’t oppose the NFL’s proposal for weekly testing of fully vaccinated individuals “because once a week is better than once every 14 days…” Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated players still tested daily. pic.twitter.com/voYKV6TMKJ

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 31, 2021