NFL Sends Memo To Teams Outlining Protocols For Reopening Team Facilities

The NFL is slowly preparing itself for reopening and moving toward having a season this year. League commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a memo to all 32 teams which detailed the protocols that teams will have to follow regarding reopening their facilities on Wednesday.

The league has said that the reopening process will first begin with select staff members only in the building, and then will eventually allow players to go to team facilities. The NFL has also said that they want teams to be ready to go into ‘phase one’ of these protocols as early as May 15.

The NFL is also in talks with the NFL Players Association to finalize ‘phase two’, which would permit players to return, although it has still not been decided if players will be allowed on the practice field.

According to the memo, teams must also:

• Get consent from state and local governments.
• Acquire adequate cleaning and other supplies.
• Create an infection-response team that consists of doctors and team athletic trainers.
• Designate an infection control officer (ICO) to be the main contact person for any employee who displays symptoms of coronavirus.
• Provide coronavirus safety and hygiene training to everyone who will return to the facility.

Face masks and maintaining social distancing will also be required and gloves will be recommended. 

The NFL has announced that it will be releasing the entirety of its regular-season schedule on Thursday, but per the memo, it has contingency plans in place if something were to come up.