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Jul 24, 2021 - Sports

NFL to fine unvaccinated players $14K for violating COVID-19 protocols

Erin Doherty
Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs wears a facemask while preparing for the start of Super Bowl LV against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs wears a facemask while preparing for the start of Super Bowl LV. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The NFL will fine unvaccinated players $14,650 if they violate COVID-19 protocols this season, ESPN reports.

The big picture: The rule change comes two days after the NFL announced that postponed games due to coronavirus outbreaks among unvaccinated players or staffers will not be rescheduled and teams responsible for delays will automatically forfeit.

  • NFL Network's Tom Pelissero obtained the league's COVID-19 protocols for the upcoming season in June, which includes different rules for players who are vaccinated versus those who are not.
  • Among other protocols, fully vaccinated individuals who are exposed to a COVID-positive individual will not be subject to the mandatory five-day isolation that kept a bunch of players, coaches and others out of games in 2020, per Pelissero.
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