In the wake of growing concern about COVID-19 and the lasting impact it may have on the United States, the NFL has made a number of changes to its offseason program.
For starters, although free agency is still taking place as scheduled, the NFL has imposed a number of restrictions on the process. In-person interviews with free agents have been banned and the NFL has also nixed players or team personnel traveling to meet up. The league has also ordered players undergo local physical examinations rather than team-conducted exams.
In a memo sent to the 32 franchises on Monday, the NFL also said all offseason team activities such as practices and minicamps have been delayed indefinitely. Team facilities have also been closed to players who aren’t undergoing medically supervised rehab for the next two weeks.
Offseason programs for teams with new head coaches were scheduled to begin April 6 and April 20 was the date for the rest of the league’s teams.
“Based on the most recent guidance provided by leading health officials, and in consultation with the NFLPA and both our and the union’s medical advisors, we believe this is the appropriate way to protect the health of our players, staff, and our communities,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “We will continue to make decisions based on the best advice from medical and public health experts and will be prepared to make further modifications as needed.”
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