NFL logo. Photo: Kohjiro Kinno/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
The NFL and NFL Players Association have suspended all COVID-19 protocols effective immediately, according to a league-wide memo.
The big picture: The league and its players' union said that the policy change was due to "current encouraging trends regarding the prevalence and severity of COVID-19."
- Teams are still required to comply with their state and local public health regulations.
- The COVID-19 protocols could be reinstated though if needed, according to the memo.
Why it matters: The NFL's protocols had often changed in response to coronavirus case rates but that was largely responsible for helping the league complete two seasons with few rescheduled games.
- Fifteen football games had to be rescheduled in 2020. In 2021, three games had to be moved amid team outbreaks.