The NFL is not requiring all team employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but it is incentivizing everyone should do so.
In a league memo sent to all 32 clubs, any team employee who does not have a “bona fide medical or religious ground” to refuse the vaccine will be barred from Tier 1 or Tier 2 status at the team facility.
This would restrict access within the facility and would prohibit employees from working directly with players, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
As for players, that is being negotiated separately with the NFL Players Association, which includes what the offseason programs will look like.
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and president JC Tretter sent a letter to players on Tuesday advocating for an entirely virtual offseason, adding that players should not attend voluntary offseason programs if they are conducted in person.
Offseason programs are scheduled to begin on Monday. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks are among teams that have already decided they will not report to voluntary offseason workouts.
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