NFL mandates only fully vaccinated personnel in locker rooms on game days

The National Football League sent a memo to its 32 teams saying that only fully vaccinated staff members will be allowed into the locker rooms during game days.

The memo, which was dated Tuesday and obtained by The Hill, reported that a max of 50 fully vaccinated personnel would be allowed around players during game days. Last year, that number was 40.

The memo applied to personnel that include coaching staff, athletic training staff, general manager, team security, equipment staff, public relations members and locker room support staff. 

The memo also said that “non-club-affiliated media will not be permitted in the locker room.”

A NFL spokesperson told The Hill that media can still conduct interviews with NFL players at team facilities’ pressers. 

The protocol is effective starting in the third week of the NFL’s preseason.

“While it is disappointing that NFL locker rooms will be closed to media this season, it is not unexpected given covid conditions. I urge @PFWAwriters members to communicate with team PR staffs to come up with creative and workable solutions to enable us all to do our jobs,” Lindsay Jones, the president of the Professional Football Writers of America, wrote in a Tweet.

While it is disappointing that NFL locker rooms will be closed to media this season, it is not unexpected given covid conditions. I urge @PFWAwriters members to communicate with team PR staffs to come up with creative and workable solutions to enable us all to do our jobs.

— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) August 24, 2021

Doctors or people taking drug tests for players can also be brought into the locker room without counting toward the total if they are fully vaccinated, the memo said.

The memo said that those who are not able to be in the locker room on game days when players are present but “perform essential functions” can enter the locker room before and after players leave.