Over the past few months, big-name NFL players have indicated that this 2020 season could be in jeopardy. It has been a lingering question if they will be able to play sixteen games or not.

The NFL fined three head coaches for not wearing masks on the sidelines during the game in week two. The coach’s teams were also fined due to not following safety precautions and preparations. The NFL´s gameday safety protocols state, ¨all individuals with bench area access, except for players, shall be required to wear masks at all times. Coaches must wear either a mask, neck gaiter, and or face shield to satisfy this obligation.¨

Dr. Larry Caplin is the founder of DOCS health which offers healthcare services to many industries. He advises nearly 20 NFL players on COVID-19 safety and has been part of calls with NFL Players Association representation to map out everything from testing options to medical science as the NFL prepares to forge ahead with its 2020 campaign.

Caplin explains how there is optimism in the season lasting and the ..entire subject as a whole revolves around compliance. If the players and teams are compliant they will play, if they choose not to be compliant they run the risk of impacting the entire team.

All NFL athletes’ preparations for this season are based on how they are managing their personal interactions, what their families are doing, testing protocols for people around them. Strict coronavirus protocols are already set into place, daily testing for the virus, and players exercising caution.

The NFL is aware players will test positive for COVID-19 during the season and that team outbreaks are possible. Any players who test positive for COVID-19 may be sidelined for a few weeks. The NFL is already prepared for teams to opt-out and not be able to participate in all sixteen games.

According to the NFL Player health and Safety website, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a necessity for contact tracing. The NFL has found a more advanced and accurate solution. The entire league is now using new technology to assist in this critical step to reduce the spread of COVID-19. And it has been a huge component of back-to-football health and safety protocols. A light, wearable device, called a Proximity Recording Device, is a must-have for players and club personnel when at the club facility, during practices, and during team travel. Keeping players and team staff as safe as possible during COVID-19 is the reason behind the use of tracking technology like the Proximity Recording Devices. The NFL has also promised to protect and respect the privacy of players and coaches.

The use of Proximity Recording Devices is just one of many new solutions the NFL is implementing to keep teams as safe as possible during the 2020 season.

Currently, the NFL remains confident that fans will be able to enjoy a 17-week season, but given the issues from this global pandemic, it won’t surprise anyone if we don’t see a full season.